Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], December 27 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav condoled the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and said that the former PM was rich in talent, the country found new direction at several places due to his talent and policies.
"An economist, former Prime Minister and former Finance Minister, who held many such important responsibilities, Dr Manmohan Singh's departure among us is very painful. Rich in talent has left us. He was a very nice person. The country has found a new direction at several places due to his talent and his policies. I pray to Baba Mahakal to give him a place at His lotus feet. Om Shanti," Yadav told ANI.
Earlier in a post on X, the Chief Minister expressed his heartfelt tribute to the former PM and said that his demise was an irreparable loss for the political world.
"The demise of former Prime Minister of India and great economist Dr Manmohan Singh is an irreparable loss for the political world. I pay tribute to him and pray to God to grant peace to the departed soul," Yadav wrote.
He further added, "While serving the responsibilities as RBI Governor, Finance Minister and Prime Minister of the country, he put the efforts for the economic prosperity of the country with his efficient and visionary policies and bravely faced various challenges. He will always be remembered for his contribution to the economic development of the country. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief."
Former PM 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.
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.
He 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.