Former PM Manmohan Singh to be cremated on Dec 28, funeral procession to begin from AICC HQ

The funeral procession for former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who passed away on Thursday (December 26) at the age of 92, will begin at 9:30 am on Saturday (December 28) from the All India Congress Committee headquarters, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal announced.

Singh, remembered as a transformative leader and a consensus builder, will be cremated the same day.

Manmohan Singh, a renowned economist and statesman, died at AIIMS in New Delhi. His death prompted tributes from across the political spectrum, with the government announcing a seven-day state mourning to honor his contributions to the nation.

Draped in the Indian tricolor, his body was brought to his residence at 3, Motilal Nehru Road, where he had lived since retiring as prime minister in 2014.

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Architect of India’s economic reforms

Singh’s career in public service began in 1971 as an economic advisor in the Commerce Ministry.

Over the years, Singh held several significant roles, including chief economic advisor, governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and deputy chairman of the Planning Commission.

As finance minister from 1991 to 1996, he implemented sweeping economic reforms that dismantled socialist-era controls, devalued the rupee, and opened the economy to foreign investment. These measures helped pull India back from financial collapse and set it on a path to becoming a global economic power.

His expertise and vision earned him recognition as one of India’s foremost economic minds.

Legacy as Prime Minister

During his decade as prime minister, from 2004 to 2014, Manmohan Singh oversaw landmark legislation, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005), the Right to Information Act (2005), and the National Food Security Act (2013).

These initiatives sought to address inequality and uplift India’s marginalised communities.

Over the years, he became a key figure in India’s policymaking, both domestically and internationally.

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Tributes pour in

Tributes to Manmohan Singh poured in from across party lines.

President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid their respects at his residence on Friday (December 27). PM Modi described his death as a great loss to the nation, noting his vital contributions to India’s development.

Union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Rahul Gandhi, and several opposition leaders visited Singh’s residence to offer condolences.

Chief ministers from states including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana traveled to Delhi to pay their respects.

Singh is survived by his wife, Gursharan Kaur, and their three daughters. His passing marks the end of a remarkable career in public service, during which he left an indelible imprint on India’s economic and political landscape.

With inputs from agencies