“I have lost a mentor and guide,” said Rahul Gandhi, while condoling the death of former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who breathed his last in New Delhi on Thursday, December 26. The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha might have paid rich tributes to the deceased Congress leader now, but he was also involved in a political gaffe over a decade ago, which arguably marks one of Singh’s worst days in the office as the Prime Minister, which he served for two terms — from 2004 to 2014.
Back in 2013, Gandhi, then the Vice-President of the grand old party, tore up a crucial ordinance supported by the Congress government during a press conference, thereby publicly humiliating the incumbent PM, Manmohan Singh, then.
The ordinance aimed at protecting convicted lawmakers from immediate disqualification. While it was a controversial piece of legislation, by the time Gandhi resorted to his infamous tactic, it had already been passed by the country’s Cabinet.
If this wasn’t enough, Gandhi also called the ordinance a “complete nonsense”, making it one of the most talked about political episodes in India in the new millennium.
Meanwhile, others in the Congress party joined Gandhi in condoling the loss.
In a statement, the Congress party said: “He leaves behind a legacy of economic reforms, political stability, and dedication to uplift the lives of every Indian.”
“His tenure first as a technocrat and then as India’s Prime Minister will be remembered for economic prosperity with a focus on social welfare, and strengthening of India’s position on the world map,” the grand old party said.
“Known for his quiet but resilient leadership, he was a man of principle who made tough decisions with care, concern and a steadfast commitment to nothing but the country’s welfare above all else,” the party said.
Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge said India lost a ‘visionary statesman’ with Singh’s demise.
“With the passing of the Former Prime Minister, India has lost a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature. His policy of Economic Liberalisation and Rights-based welfare paradigm profoundly transformed the lives of crores of Indians, virtually creating a Middle Class in India and lifting crores out of poverty,” Kharge said.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was elected to the Parliament a few weeks ago, via a by-poll in Kerala’s Wayanad, said: “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,” she said.
“He was genuinely egalitarian, wise, strong-willed and courageous until the end. A uniquely dignified and gentle man in the rough world of politics,” Vadra said.
Known for his command over the English language, veteran Congress leader Shashi Tharoor ditched his usual style to pay tribute to the deceased statesman in Hindi.
याद रखेगी दुनिया के, कभी,
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 26, 2024
ऐसा भी कोई संत हुआ है
आज एक सदी का अंत हुआ है,
आज एक सदी का अंत हुआ! #DrManmohanSingh ॐ शांति pic.twitter.com/JZSzZCuTWM
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is regarded as the architect of the country’s economic reforms programme as the finance minister in the early 1990s, died at New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Thursday. He was 92.
India’s two-time prime minister and Congress leader was brought to the hospital’s emergency department, around 8 PM after his health deteriorated. He was administered CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), but efforts to revive him remained unsuccessful, an AIIMS statement said.
Manmohan Singh rose to prominence as the country’s finance minister during the Congress regime headed by PV Narasimha Rao during 1991-96, for bringing sweeping reforms that transformed the economy.
As the two-term UPA Prime Minister, he stayed at the top post from 2004 to 2014 and served as a member of the Rajya Sabha till early this year.
He retired from the Rajya Sabha in April.
