Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], December 27 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Friday expressed his condolences over the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, stating that the country has lost an intellectual, economist, capable administrator, and dedicated leader.
"With the demise of the former prime minister, we have lost an intellectual, economist, capable administrator, and dedicated leader. He led the country into a new economic era through his reforms... I pay my condolences and pray for the departed soul," he said.
Union Minister SP Singh Baghel also expressed sorrow over Singh's demise, noting that he will always be remembered as a great leader for his contributions to the nation.
"This is a very sad moment for the country... We have lost one of the gems of the nation. I learned a lot from him. He will always be remembered as a great leader for the work he did for the nation," Baghel said.
Manmohan Singh passed away at AIIMS, Delhi, on Thursday evening at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions. He had experienced a sudden loss of consciousness at home and was subsequently rushed to the hospital.
Born on September 26, 1932, Singh was not only an economist but also served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 1982 to 1985. He was India's 13th Prime Minister, serving from 2004 to 2014.
As Finance Minister in PV Narasimha Rao's government, Singh spearheaded the landmark economic liberalisation of 1991, which opened up the Indian economy to foreign investment, increased FDI, and reduced government control, significantly accelerating the nation's economic growth.
During his tenure as prime minister, his government introduced several transformative policies, including the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), later renamed MGNREGA, which provided a legal guarantee for wage employment.
In 2005, Singh's leadership also saw the passage of the Right to Information Act (RTI), enhancing transparency and accountability between the government and the public.
Manmohan Singh retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year after serving for 33 years.