Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 27 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday expressed his condolences over the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that his departure is a great and irreparable loss to the country.
"We all are in immense grief due to the demise of the former PM Manmohan Singh. He tried to fulfil all his duties being the finance minister, RBI governor, and prime minister of the country, especially his effort to give the country's economy a new direction... His departure is a great and irreparable loss to the country. I express my condolences and pray for the peace of the departed soul," Fadnavis said.
Odisha Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan also expressed his grief and said that Singh will always be remembered for his teachings and knowledge and the work he did for the nation.
"This was the unfortunate news that we got...He was a decent politician and a Statesman...This demise is a huge loss for the nation...He will always be remembered for his teachings and knowledge and the work he did for the nation...I wish his soul rest in peace," he said.
Union Minister SP Singh Baghel expressed sorrow over the demise of former PM Singh and said that he will always be remembered as a great leader for the work he did for the nation.
"This is very sad for the country...We lost one of the gems of the country...I got to learn a lot of things from him...He will always be remembered as a great leader for the works which he did for the nation," he said.
Manmohan Singh passed away at AIIMS, Delhi, on Thursday evening at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions. He had suffered a sudden loss of consciousness at home and was subsequently rushed to AIIMS, Delhi.
Born on September 26, 1932, Manmohan Singh was not only an economist but also served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 1982 to 1985. He was the 13th Prime Minister of India, serving from 2004 to 2014.
As the Finance Minister of India in PV Narasimha Rao's government, Singh is credited with spearheading the economic liberalisation of 1991. The reforms opened up the Indian economy to foreign investment, increased FDI, and reduced government control, significantly contributing to the nation's economic growth.
Manmohan Singh's government also introduced the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), later renamed MGNREGA, which provided a legal guarantee for wage employment.
In 2005, under his leadership, the Right to Information Act (RTI) was passed, enhancing transparency and accountability between the government and the public.
Singh retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year after serving for 33 years.