Singh, who is known for ushering in several bold reforms in the economy, became a member of the House for the first time in October 1991.
Dr Manmohan Singh. (X)
As many as 54 members of the Rajya Sabha including former prime minister Manmohan Singh and nine union ministers retired on Tuesday, 2 April and Wednesday, 3 April, with some not returning to the Upper House.
Former prime minister Singh ends his 33-year-long parliamentary innings in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, just as former party chief Sonia Gandhi will enter the Upper House of Parliament for the first time.
Singh, who is known for ushering in several bold reforms in the economy, became a member of the House for the first time in October 1991. He was the finance minister in the Narasimha Rao government from 1991 to 1996 and the prime minister from 2004 to 2014.
On the occasion of Singh’s retirement from the Rajya Sabha, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MK Stalin thanked the former prime minister for his service to the nation as a member of Rajya Sabha for 33 years.
Stalin is also a prominent leader of the Opposition INDIA bloc.
Taking to X, he wrote: “Throughout your tenure, you have displayed a rare combination of humility, intellect, and statesmanship, earning respect and admiration from across the political spectrum. Your leadership, particularly during challenging times, has been a source of inspiration for many, including myself.”
Wishing Singh on behalf of DMK and the people of Tamil Nadu, Stalin added, “As you transition into a new phase of your life, I hope you take pride in your immense contribution to the Indian Union and its people.”
“May you continue to inspire us with your wisdom and vision,” the chief minister added.
Dear Dr. Manmohan Singh,
On behalf of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and myself, I extend my heartfelt thanks for your remarkable service to the nation as a member of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) for 33 years.
Throughout your tenure, you have displayed a rare… pic.twitter.com/hDtZgccyH4
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) April 3, 2024
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar too extended his greeting to Singh.
Calling the leader an inspiration to the Congress party and the nation, Shivakumar wrote on X: “From being the architect of our economic policies in the 90’s to serving the country as the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh redefined grace, statesmanship and brilliance.”
The KPCC chief added, “He faced compliments and criticism with the same integrity, which is something everyone should learn from! His economic acumen helped Bengaluru become the hub of information technology and biotechnology.”
As former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh’s retires from the Rajya Sabha after serving for 3 decades, an illustrious career is truly coming to an end.
From being the architect of our economic policies in the 90’s to serving the country as the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh redefined… pic.twitter.com/9SnZMiyRkL
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) April 3, 2024
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday wrote to Manmohan Singh lauding his contribution to the country and said he will remain a “hero” to the middle class and the aspirational youth.
The current set of leaders “who have reaped the benefits of your work are reluctant to credit you due to political biases”, Kharge said in his letter to Singh
Kharge said that with Singh’s retirement, an era comes to an end. “Very few people can say they have served our nation with more dedication and more devotion than you. Very few people have accomplished as much as you for the nation and its people,” he said.
The Congress leader said Singh will always remain a “hero” to the middle class and the aspirational youth, “a leader and guide to the industrialists and entrepreneurs, and a benefactor to all those poor who were able to climb out of poverty due to your economic policies”.
“You have shown that it is possible to pursue economic policies that were equally beneficial to large industries, young entrepreneurs, small businesses, the salaried class and the poor. It was you who showed that even the poor can participate in the nation’s growth and be lifted out of poverty,” the Congress chief said.
Thanks to your policies, he said, India was able to lift 27 crore people, the highest number of poor people, out of poverty in the world while you were the prime minister.
The MGNREGA scheme launched under the Manmohan Singh government continues to provide relief to rural workers during times of crisis, he said.
“The nation and particularly the rural poor will always remember you for ensuring that they can earn a living and live with self-respect through this scheme,” he noted.
Kharge said the nation misses the quiet yet strong dignity that Singh brought to the office of the Prime Minister.
“The Parliament will now miss your wisdom and experience. Your dignified, measured, soft-spoken yet statesman-like words are in contrast to the loud voices filled with lies that signify the current politics,” he said.
He said that “unscrupulousness” is being equated with astute leadership in the current political situation and added, “I still recall your speech on demonetisation which you termed as “monumental management failure” and “an organised loot and legalised plunder”, which has proved to be a grim reality.”
“You showed it is possible to criticise without getting personal. The nation and the people will soon see through the lies of the current government. Just like how the sun and the moon can never be hidden, the truth can also never be hidden. People will realise the import of your words soon,” Kharge said.
He expressed the hope that Singh will continue to be the voice of wisdom and moral compass to the nation.
My letter to Former Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh ji as he retires from Rajya Sabha, today.
As you retire today from the Rajya Sabha after having served for more than three decades, an era comes to an end. Very few people can say they have served our nation with more… pic.twitter.com/jSgfwp4cPQ
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 2, 2024
Kharge also said economic prosperity and stability being enjoyed today are built on the foundations laid by “you along with our former Prime Minister, Bharat Ratna, Shri PV Narasimha Rao”.
The current set of leaders who have reaped the benefits of your work are reluctant to credit you due to political biases.
“In fact, they seem to go out of their way to speak ill about you and make personal attacks against you. However, we also know that you are large-hearted enough not to hold that against anyone,” he said.
Whatever little reforms done by the current government has its seeds in the work initiated in the UPA government headed by you, he said.
In the letter to Singh, Kharge claimed that the work initiated by his government to ensure the direct transfer of benefits to individual beneficiaries by creating zero balance accounts and unique identification of the beneficiary through Aadhaar was “hijacked by the succeeding government without giving you credit”.
The Congress chief said personally, it has been a privilege for him to have been a part of his cabinet and Singh has “always been a source of wisdom and someone whose advice I valued.”
“Over the last few years, you have made it a point to be available for the Congress party despite personal inconveniences. For this, the party and I will always remain grateful,” he said.
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