The Congress Working Committee (CWC) will convene a special meeting today at 5:30 pm at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi to pay homage to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who passed away on Thursday evening.
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal confirmed the meeting, stating, “A Congress Working Committee meeting comprising CWC Members, Permanent & Special Invitees is being convened at 5:30 pm today in AICC HQ to pay homage to the former Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh ji.”
Dr. Singh, a towering figure in Indian politics and economics, passed away at the age of 92 at AIIMS Delhi due to age-related health complications. He was rushed to the hospital after a sudden loss of consciousness at home.
Several leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, BJP President JP Nadda, and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and KC Venugopal, have paid their respects to the former Prime Minister.
In a condolence message, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge described Singh as “a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature.” He highlighted Singh’s transformative policies, including the 1991 economic liberalisation reforms, which created India’s middle class and lifted millions out of poverty. “His immense contribution to nation-building will forever be etched in the annals of Indian history,” Kharge said.
Dr. Manmohan Singh served as India’s 13th Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, becoming the longest-serving Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. As Finance Minister in PV Narasimha Rao’s government, Singh spearheaded the 1991 economic reforms, opening India’s economy to foreign investments and reducing government control. His tenure also saw the introduction of landmark policies such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the Right to Information Act (RTI).
The mortal remains of Dr. Singh will be kept at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi for public viewing on Saturday morning from 8:00 am to 10:00 am. According to Congress sources, his cremation will take place near Rajghat, where former Prime Ministers are laid to rest.
Born on September 26, 1932, Dr. Manmohan Singh also served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 1982 to 1985 and retired earlier this year after a distinguished 33-year tenure in the Rajya Sabha. His passing has left a deep void in Indian politics and public life.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences, saying, “India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders.”
(Inputs from ANI)
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