'Manmohan Singh served nation with dedication': Modi leads tributes on ex-PM's birth anniversary

Leaders across parties acknowledged his integrity and contributions, emphasizing his influence on India's development and his vision for inclusive governance.

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Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was remembered on Saturday on his birth anniversary, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leaders and leaders across political parties paying tribute to him, while Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi paid floral tributes to the former Prime Minister at the AICC office in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Singh on his birth anniversary. In a post on X, Modi recalled Singh's long public career and said he had served the nation with dedication.

“Tributes to our former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji on his birth anniversary. He spent many years in public life and served the nation with dedication,” Modi said.

Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi paid floral tributes to Singh at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) office on Akbar Road. Several senior Congress leaders were also present at the tribute ceremony.

Rahul Gandhi also remembered Singh in a post on X, highlighting his humility, integrity and foresight. He said the former prime minister's decisions and contributions had given a new direction to India's economy and social justice and would continue to guide the country.

“On the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh ji, I pay my humble respects to him,” Rahul Gandhi said on X.

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He further recalled Singh's contribution to the making of India, saying his historic decisions would continue to be remembered. “With his humility, integrity, and foresight, he gave a new direction to the country's economy and social justice. His historic decisions and invaluable contributions to the making of India will forever continue to guide us,” he said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also paid tribute to Singh, describing him as a visionary statesman whose economic reforms had transformed India's growth trajectory.

Kharge said Singh's public life was marked by humility, integrity and wisdom, while his approach to governance placed inclusive growth and the welfare of vulnerable sections at the centre. He also highlighted the rights-based framework associated with Singh's government as part of his political legacy.

“We remember with profound respect the extraordinary contribution of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to India's nation-building,” Kharge said in a post on X.

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A prayer meeting was also organised by Singh's family at the residence of the former prime minister. Rahul Gandhi attended the meeting.

Other political leaders also remembered the former prime minister. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Singh's contributions to the nation would always be cherished.

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar described Singh as a scholar, economist and statesman who served the country with humility, integrity and a strong sense of duty. Shivakumar also highlighted Singh's contribution to the Bengaluru Metro project.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy paid homage to Singh, describing him as an economist of global stature, a statesman known for integrity and a dedicated public servant whose vision contributed to India's development.

Singh was born on September 26, 1932, in Gah, in present-day Pakistan, then part of undivided India. He went on to become one of India's most prominent economists before entering the country's highest political office.

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He served as India's Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014 for two consecutive terms. His first government was sworn in on May 22, 2004, and he returned for a second term after the 2009 general elections.

Singh remained a prominent figure in Indian public life even after leaving office in 2014. He died on December 26, 2024, at the age of 92.

Political leaders' tributes on Saturday recalled different aspects of Singh's public life, including his role as an economist, his contribution to economic policy and his tenure as prime minister, while Congress leaders gathered at the AICC headquarters to mark his birth anniversary.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)

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