7-Day National Mourning Declared for Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; State Funeral to Follow
Srishti Jha
New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday night at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi. Dr. Singh breathed his last at 9:51 PM. In a solemn gesture, the central government has declared a seven-day national mourning period. Sources indicate that a cabinet meeting will be held on Friday at 11 AM to pay tribute to the late Prime Minister. All scheduled government events for the day have been canceled. Dr. Singh’s funeral will be conducted with full state honors.
Dr. Manmohan Singh had been unwell for a considerable time. On Thursday evening, he experienced difficulty breathing and later lost consciousness. He was rushed to AIIMS, where doctors tried their best to revive him. Sadly, he was declared dead at 9:51 PM.
AIIMS released an official statement confirming the demise of Dr. Singh at the age of 92 due to age-related ailments. The statement added that he was brought to the hospital at 8:06 PM in a critical condition and, despite all efforts, could not be saved.
A Legacy of Leadership and Service
Dr. Manmohan Singh was an eminent Indian politician, economist, teacher, and bureaucrat. Serving as India’s Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, he became the fourth-longest-serving Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Narendra Modi. A member of the Rajya Sabha, he represented Assam from 1991 to 2019 and later Rajasthan from 2019 to 2024.
Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Dr. Singh migrated to India with his family during the 1947 Partition. An accomplished scholar, he earned a doctorate in economics from Oxford University and worked at the United Nations from 1966 to 1969. Subsequently, he joined the Indian Administrative Service and held several key positions.
India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic… pic.twitter.com/clW00Yv6oP
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 26, 2024
In 1991, amid a severe economic crisis, Dr. Singh was appointed Finance Minister by then Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao. His policies of economic liberalization and structural reforms helped steer India out of the crisis and set the stage for rapid economic growth.
Congress Declares Seven-Day Mourning
The Indian National Congress (INC) has canceled all official programs, including its Foundation Day celebrations, for the next seven days as a mark of respect. Party flags will remain at half-mast during this period.
Congress General Secretary K. C. Venugopal stated that all outreach and protest programs have been postponed until January 3, 2025. In Karnataka, the Congress has canceled its “Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan Rally” scheduled for Friday. Instead, a condolence meeting will be held to honor Dr. Singh’s memory.
Heartfelt Tributes
Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi expressed profound grief, saying, “I have lost a guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with pride. Dr. Manmohan Singh led India with wisdom and integrity. His humility and profound understanding of economics inspired the entire nation. My heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Kaur and his family.”
Dr. Manmohan Singh’s passing marks the end of an era in Indian politics, leaving behind an indelible legacy of leadership, humility, and vision.