"Manmohan Singh's demise a big setback for nation": Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

Speaking to ANI, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla says, " Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh is no more. He played a key role in the Indian politics. In the socioeconomic sector, he brought a big change and his role will always be remembered by the nation. When he was PM, he played a role in the progress of the country's economy. his demise is a big setback for the nation. my condolences to his family."

BJP leader Praneet Kaur paid tribute to Manmohan Singh saying that He never spoke ill of anyone and did his work with simplicity and humility.

Speaking to ANI, BJP leader Kaur said, "During the tenure of Narasimha Rao he presented his first budget after which the country's economy started to rise. There were many parties but he kept everyone and ran the government. I was a junior minister during his tenure, but he used to take care of the smallest of things. He never spoke ill of anyone and did his work with simplicity and humility. His economic expertise was popular all over the world."

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday termed former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's demise as a "great loss" and said that he will be remembered with admiration and affection.

Speaking to ANI, Union Minister Puri said, "The passing away of the former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is a great loss. He was a tall stalwart, visionary statesman and I had the privilege of knowing him for nearly fifty years... If you look back on his life he was a person who rose from relatively humble origins. He had an outstanding academic record...there is no academic distinction which he did not have. He will be remembered for many things. I think he was the architect of economic reforms... He was able to navigate the economy at a time when it was facing many challenges. He will be remembered with a great degree of admiration and affection."

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin paid his last respects to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his residence in Delhi and termed the his demise as a "great loss" for the nation.

"It is a great loss for India. He had introduced various schemes to improve the infrastructure in Tamil Nadu. He introduced the 100-day employment scheme, Metro rail, and Sethusamudram project and declared Tamil a classical language. He was close to our leader M. Karunanidhi. On behalf of DMK, I express my deepest condolences to his family and Congress," Stalin told reporters.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said that India has lost a politician, an economist, and a former Prime Minister on whom the country had great hope and faith.

"The demise of former Prime Minister, great economist Dr Manmohan Singh is very sad. It is an irreparable loss not only for his family and his supporters but for the whole of India. With his demise, the country has lost a politician, an economist, and a former Prime Minister from whom the country had great hope and faith. He took many important steps to strengthen the country, which are still contributing to the progress of this country," Maurya told ANI.

Manmohan Singh passed away at AIIMS, Delhi, on Thursday evening at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions. He had a sudden loss of consciousness at home after which he was rushed to the AIIMS Delhi.

Condolences have poured in from around the globe in response to Singh's demise. Leaders from neighbouring countries, including the United States, Maldives, and Afghanistan, expressed their deep grief over his passing, highlighting his contributions and the warm relationships he fostered with their nations.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's body will be displayed at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi for public viewing. His last rites are scheduled for Saturday, according to Congress sources.

Serving as the finance minister of India in PV Narasimha Rao's government, Singh has been given credit for economic liberalisation in the country in 1991. The reforms made the Indian economy more accessible to foreign investors, which increased FDI and reduced government control. It greatly contributed to the country's economic growth. (ANI)