"Great loss to country as well as to Congress": Party leader Ripun Bora mourns Manmohan Singh's demise

"He was not only the Prime Minister of our country but also a renowned economist of global stature. He made significant contributions as Finance Minister, driving economic reforms in the country. He led our nation for a continuous 10 years. His demise is a great loss to the nation as well as to our Congress party," Bora said.

Uttar Pradesh Minister Dayashankar Singh also paid tribute to the former Prime Minister, highlighting his simplicity and integrity.

"The country has suffered an immense loss with the demise of Dr Manmohan Singh. His contributions as an economic advisor, Finance Minister, and Prime Minister were extraordinary. His simplicity and honesty will always be remembered. I pay my heartfelt tributes to him," he said.

Manmohan Singh passed away at AIIMS, Delhi, on Thursday evening at the age of 92, due to age-related health issues. He had suffered a sudden loss of consciousness at home and was rushed to AIIMS, Delhi.

Born on September 26, 1932, Manmohan Singh was an esteemed economist and served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 1982 to 1985. He was the 13th Prime Minister of India, serving from 2004 to 2014.

As Finance Minister in PV Narasimha Rao's government, Singh spearheaded the landmark economic liberalisation of 1991. These reforms opened the Indian economy to foreign investment, increased FDI, and reduced government controls, significantly boosting the nation's economic growth.

During his tenure as Prime Minister, Singh's government introduced the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), later renamed MGNREGA, which provided a legal guarantee for wage employment.

In 2005, under his leadership, the Right to Information Act (RTI) was passed, fostering greater transparency and accountability between the government and the public.

Singh retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year, after an illustrious career spanning 33 years. (ANI)