New Delhi – Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh towering figure in Indian politics and economics, passed away on December 26 at 9:51 PM. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, confirmed his demise after efforts to revive him failed. Dr. Singh was brought to the hospital at 8:06 PM following a sudden loss of consciousness at his residence. Despite immediate resuscitative measures, he could not be saved.
AIIMS stated that the 91-year-old statesman had been battling age-related ailments for several months. His wife, Gursharan Kaur, and three daughters survive him.
Dr. Singh, often described as a reluctant politician, served as India’s Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, leading the Congress-led UPA government through two consecutive terms. His tenure as Finance Minister under P.V. Narasimha Rao in the early 1990s marked a pivotal moment in India’s economic history. Dr. Singh’s bold reforms during the 1991 economic crisis ushered in liberalisation, laying the foundation for modern India’s economic transformation.
Credited with policies like the abolition of the Licence Raj, rupee devaluation, and allowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Dr. Singh was instrumental in opening up sectors to private and foreign players, steering India away from the brink of bankruptcy.
As news of his demise spread, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra rushed to AIIMS. The government has announced a seven-day national mourning in his honor, and Dr. Singh’s last rites will be conducted with full state honors.
The Delhi Congress expressed deep sorrow on social media platform X, calling his death “an irreparable loss to Indian politics.”
“The demise of renowned economist and former Prime Minister of the country, respected Manmohan Singh ji, is an irreparable loss. The Delhi Congress family pays homage to his memories and expresses gratitude for his contribution to nation-building. Om Shanti.”
Dr. Singh’s legacy as a statesman, economist, and leader will continue to inspire generations.