"He will be remembered as a knowledgeable and farsighted politician": RS Deputy Chairman Harivansh mourns Manmohan Singh's demise

Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], December 27 (ANI): Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh on Friday expressed grief over the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and said that he will be remembered as a knowledgeable and farsighted politician.
Speaking to ANI, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh says, "He will always be remembered as a great, knowledgeable and farsighted politician and parliamentarian. He was a leading economist who was known across the world. He became the Finance Minister of the country at the time of an economic crisis. He is credited for libralisation. But above all this was his dignity and dignified conduct."
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini also expressed grief over his death and said that the country has lost not only a politician but also an economist. Saini added that Singh will always be remembered for his simplicity and his economic decisions.
Speaking to ANI, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini said, "The country has lost not only a politician but also an economist. His journey from being born in a Punjab village to becoming an economist and the PM shows his commitment to serving the nation. He will always be remembered for his simplicity and his economic decisions. I pray to God that his soul rests in peace."
Congress leader Harish Rawat also expressed his sorrow saying he was the son of India who dedicated his life to building the nation. Rawat also termed Singh's death as a "big setback" for Congress.
Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Harish Rawat said, "His demise is a big setback for the country. He was the son of India who dedicated his life to building the nation. He helped in rebuilding Uttarakhand after the 2013 flood disaster. This is a big setback for Congress as well."
Robert Vadra, businessman and husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi expressed grief saying that Singh was very humble and a Prime Minister who made all the difference to the country.
Speaking to ANI, Vadra said, "He was very humble, a PM who made all the difference to the country. I had an interaction with him, where I found him very humble in his way, he was very real and grounded. It was not about optics. It is not what is happening today with the PM we see now. He spoke for the people. He had a lot of knowledge about the economy. The country prospered with him at that time."
Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in her condolence message said, that Singh's honesty will always be an inspiration for us and he will forever stand tall among those who truly love this country.
"Few people in politics inspire the kind of respect that Sardar Manmohan Singh ji did. His honesty will always be an inspiration for us and he will forever stand tall among those who truly love this country as someone who remained steadfast in his commitment to serve the nation despite being subjected to unfair and deeply personal attacks by his opponents. He was genuinely egalitarian, wise, strongwilled and courageous until the end. A uniquely dignified and gentle man in the rough world of politics," Priyanka Gandhi said on X.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his last respects to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his residence in Delhi.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Health Minister and BJP National President JP Nadda also paid their last respects to Manmohan Singh.
Congress leaders, including KC Venugopal, were also present at the former PM's residence.
Manmohan Singh passed away at AIIMS, Delhi, on Thursday evening at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions. He had a sudden loss of consciousness at home after which he was rushed to the AIIMS Delhi.
Condolences have poured in from around the globe in response to Singh's demise. Leaders from neighbouring countries, including the United States, Maldives, and Afghanistan, expressed their deep grief over his passing, highlighting his contributions and the warm relationships he fostered with their nations.
The mortal remains of the former PM will be kept at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi for public viewing. As per the Congress party sources, the 'last darshan' will be scheduled for Saturday between 8:00 am to 10:00 am.
Singh, renowned for introducing the 1991 economic liberalisation reforms as the Finance Minister of India, will be cremated near Rajghat, at the location where the last rites of Prime Ministers are performed.
Manmohan Singh was born on September 26, 1932. Apart from being an economist, Manmohan Singh served as Reserve Bank of India governor from 1982-1985. He was the 13th PM of India with his tenure from 2004-2014 and was the longest-serving PM after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
Serving as the finance minister of India in PV Narasimha Rao's government, Singh has been given credit for economic liberalisation in the country in 1991. The reforms made the Indian economy more accessible to foreign investors, which increased FDI and reduced government control. It greatly contributed to the country's economic growth.
Manmohan Singh's government also introduced the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), which later came to be known as MGNREGA.
The Right to Information Act (RTI) was passed in 2005 under the Manmohan Singh government, which made the transparency of information between the government and the public better.
Dr Manmohan Singh retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year after serving for 33 years. (ANI)