"Loss to entire nation": Ak Antony remembers Manmohan Singh's contributions as FM

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], December 27 (ANI): Senior Congress leader AK Antony on Friday expressed sorrow over the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying that it was a loss to the entire nation. He said that then Prime Minister Narsimha Rao had invited Manmohan Singh to be part of his cabinet as the Finance Minister when the economy was in shambles.
Within a few months, amid concerns from people, the economy was flourishing again, he added.
"The sad demise of Dr Manmohan Singh is a great loss to the entire nation. When the Indian economy was in shambles, then PM Narasimha Rao invited him to join his cabinet as Finance Minister, many people wondered how this man would salvage the mess created by the previous government. Within a few months, the economy again started flourishing...he stopped the licencing and quota raj," Antony, who is the former Defence Minister of India, told reporters.
He further said that people wanted Sonia Gandhi to be the Prime Minister after the 2004 elections but she refused and nominated Manmohan Singh for the post. Singh proved to be one of the best Prime Ministers India has ever seen, Antony added.
"After the elections in 2004, they wanted Sonia Gandhi to be the Prime Minister. But she had different plans. She said that she would not take the Prime Ministership. She nominated Dr Manmohan Singh to be the PM. People were wondering how a man who was not a politician and who didn't know the complexities of Indian politics would handle it. Within 10 years, he proved that he was one of the best PMs India has ever seen," Antony said.
The national flag was draped over the bier carrying the mortal remains of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. According to sources, the last rites of the former PM will be carried out with full state honours.
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.
Several politicians and personalities from all walks of life have been expressing their sorrow over the demise of former PM Manmohan Singh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night said that condoled the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders.
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.
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.
He retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year after serving for 33 years. (ANI)