Manmohan turns 92; Cong calls him a visionary statesman

PTI New Delhi: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh turned 92 on Thursday, with Congress leaders lauding his contributions and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi hailing his humility, wisdom and selfless service in shaping the country’s future. Singh was prime minister of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government between 2004 and 2014. He was also India’s finance minister in the PV Narasimha Rao-led government during 1991-96, an epochal era for the country’s economy marked by wide-ranging reforms.

Born in 1932 in a region now part of Pakistan, Singh is credited as being the key architect of the economic reforms effected by the Rao-led government that broke the stranglehold of socialist-era policies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted his predecessor on his birthday. He said on X, “Birthday greetings to former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh ji. I pray that he is blessed with a long and healthy life.”Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge led party leaders in greeting Singh and hailing his contributions to the country. Kharge said Singh stood as a “rare embodiment of simplicity, dignity and ingenuity in the realm of politics”. “On the occasion of his birthday, I extend my warmest wishes to former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh ji,” Kharge said. “He stands as a rare embodiment of simplicity, dignity and ingenuity in the realm of politics. A visionary statesman, whose actions spoke louder than words, we remain deeply grateful for his tremendous and invaluable contributions to the nation,” the Congress chief said. Wishing him good health, happiness and a long life ahead, he added. In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said, “Happy Birthday to Dr Manmohan Singh ji.

Your humility, wisdom, and selfless service in shaping our country’s future continue to inspire me and millions of Indians. Wishing you good health and happiness!” Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also extended birthday greetings “to the pioneer of liberalisation and economic reforms in the country”.

“Manmohan Singh ji gave the people wonderful welfare policies and rights like MGNREGA, Right to Food, Right to Information, Right to Education. Due to your historic efforts for inclusive development, India became one of the few economic p o w - ers in the world. Your honesty, hard work, simplicity and humility are an inspiration for all of us. May God keep you healthy and a long life,” she said on X.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge led party leaders in greeting Singh and hailing his contributions to the country