India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has died aged 92. Singh served as prime minister from 2004 to 2014 and was a key architect of India’s economic liberalization in the 1990s. He previously served as finance minister from 1991 to 1996, where he implemented reforms that saved India’s economy from a severe crisis.
Singh, an economist-turned-politician, had been ailing and admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi late on Thursday. His health deteriorated due to “sudden loss of consciousness at home”, according to hospital officials. Singh is survived by his wife and three daughters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described Singh as one of India’s most distinguished leaders, praising his efforts to improve people’s lives and calling him “a man of great personal integrity”. Singh’s government introduced various welfare schemes, including a jobs program for rural poor, during his tenure. He also signed landmark deals with the US on nuclear energy trade.
Despite his achievements, Singh faced opposition from within his own party and coalition partners, leading to his eventual ouster in 2014. In a statement before leaving office, Singh defended his record, saying he believed history would be kinder to him than contemporary media or opposition parties.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/26/indias-former-pm-manmohan-singh-dies-aged-92