Manmohan Singh death news updates: Former PM's last rites to be held tomorrow at Nigambodh Ghat

Manmohan Singh Death Live Updates: Catch all the latest news developments here

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh's final journey will commence from the All India Congress Committee headquarters to the cremation ground at 9.30 am on Saturday, party general secretary KC Venugopal said on Friday.  The Home Ministry has announced that a 7-day state mourning will be observed throughout the country as a mark of respect to former prime minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away last night.

  In a communication to all chief secretaries of state and union territories on Thursday, the home ministry also said that a state funeral will be accorded to Singh and there will be no official entertainment during the period of state mourning.

"The government of India announces with profound sorrow the death of Manmohan Singh, former prime minister of India on December 26, 2024 at AIIMS hospital in New Delhi," the communication said. As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, the home ministry said, it has been decided that a seven-day state mourning will be observed throughout India from December 26, 2024 to January 1, 2025.

 

Condoling Singh's death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X: "His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people's lives." Recalling their interactions when he was the Gujarat chief minister and Singh the country's prime minister, Modi said they would have extensive deliberations on various subjects relating to governance.” A national mourning of 7 days has been declared, while all government programmes scheduled for Friday have been cancelled. A Cabinet meeting scheduled for tomorrow has also been called off. Singh presided over a period of unprecedented growth during his tenure as prime minister. Between 2004 and 2014, India witnessed rapid economic expansion, the fastest since Independence, emerging as a nearly $2 trillion economy.

9:24 PM

Former PM’s last rites to be held tomorrow at Nigambodh Ghat

6:47 PM

CWC mourns loss of Dr Manmohan Singh, whose life, work profoundly shaped destiny of India: Resolution

"Congress Working Committee mourns loss of "true statesman" Manmohan Singh, whose life, work profoundly shaped destiny of India," said the CWC resolution. "We commit to uphold Manmohan Singh's values as we work towards building more prosperous, united India, just as he envisioned. Dr Singh's legacy as leader, economist, humble human being will live on, inspiring all to contribute to betterment of our great nation," it added.

5:35 PM

Manmohan Singh's values of humility, integrity will continue to inspire generations to come: Mufti

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti Friday paid tributes to former prime minister Manmohan Singh, saying his contributions to the country and his values of humility, integrity, and inclusivity will continue to inspire generations to come.

 

Mufti and her party paid floral tributes to the former PM at the party headquarters here, where a condolence meeting was also held.

 

Mufti described Singh as the architect of modern India's economic transformation, recalling his visionary leadership during the liberalisation, privatisation, and globalisation reforms that reshaped India in the early 1990s.

 

"Singh ushered India into a new era, setting the stage for growth and prosperity. From bringing bread and butter to the doorstep of the poorest through schemes like NREGA and the Food Security Act to securing the landmark nuclear deal, and AADHAR, his contributions have touched every Indian," she said.

5:19 PM

‘A setback for the whole nation,’ says PM Modi, calls former PM an ‘inspiration for coming generations’

4:51 PM

Panjab University pays homage to Manmohan Singh

Panjab University Friday organised a condolence meeting to pay homage to former prime minister and distinguished alumnus Dr Manmohan Singh. The gathering was attended by Vice Chancellor Prof Renu Vig, Registrar Y P Verma and faculty and other staff.

During the meeting, tributes were paid to Singh, as attendees reflected on his contributions to the nation and his association with the university. Another condolence meeting was also organised jointly by the Department of Economics and the Panjab University Alumni Association.

 

4:36 PM

Manmohan Singh 'saved the country' from falling into a 'debt trap': Deve Gowda

Manmohan Singh served as the Finance Minister in the Narasimha Rao government in 1991, during one of the most critical economic periods in the country's history. He took on the responsibility and did his utmost to save the nation from the economic crises, Deve Gowda said. "Such was the severity of the situation. To address this, the Narasimha Rao government with Singh as the Finance Minister made the decision to pledge 130 tonnes of gold." Singh then introduced economic reforms such as liberalisation, privatisation, and foreign direct investment, Gowda said.

4:09 PM

Manmohan Singh was against corruption: Anna Hazare

“He was against corruption and took immediate decisions concerning the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act. He always thought about the country and how best he could work for its people,” Hazare said. “Manmohan Singh has left the world in physical form but will always remain in (people's) memories,” Hazare added.

3:41 PM

Karnataka Cong pays tributes to Manmohan Singh at the venue planned for convention

Karnataka Congress on Friday paid tributes to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who died on Thursday, at the site where they planned mega convention here for the centenary celebrations of the 1924 Indian National Congress session presided by Mahatma Gandhi. Several Congress leaders including its President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, attended the extended Congress Working Committee meeting planned as part of the centenary celebrations on Thursday.

3:32 PM

"India has lost a great man": French President Emmanuel Macron

"India has lost a great man, and France a true friend, in the person of Dr. Manmohan Singh. He had devoted his life to his country. Our thoughts are with his family and the people of India," Macron posted on X.

3:02 PM

‘He was one of those who made modern India’: Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe

"I have known him since 1992, I had discussions with him...he has been a good friend...he was a good leader, one of those who made modern India," Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated today.

2:08 PM

Former PM's cremation to take place tomorrow

"At 8am tomorrow, 28 December, his mortal remains will be taken to AICC HQ and the public and Congress workers will have the opportunity to offer their tributes between 8.30 am - 9.30 am tomorrow. Dr Singh’s final journey to the heavenly abode will commence from AICC HQ to the cremation ground at 9.30am tomorrow," Congress leader KC Venugopal wrote on X.

1:41 PM

Cabinet condoles death of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh

The Union Cabinet passed a condolence resolution in the memory of Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister.  “The Cabinet expresses profound sorrow over the sad demise of Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India on 26th December, 2024, at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi," a press note stated. 

1:30 PM

A moment of poignant sorrow and grief for India and for Russia, says Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov

"It is moment of poignant sorrow and grief for India and for Russia. Dr Manmohan Singh‘s contribution to our bilateral ties was immeasurable. His suave demeanor was always endearing as unquestionable was his expertise as an economist and his commitment to the progress of India," Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov stated.

1:06 PM

'History will be kinder to me': Manmohan Singh's last press conference

In his final press conference as Prime Minister on January 3, 2014, Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a statement that has resurfaced on social media over the past decade. Responding to questions about his perceived inability to control his ministers and act decisively in critical situations, he said, “I honestly believe history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media or for that matter, the Opposition parties in Parliament.” Read here for more details.

12:43 PM

Manmohan Singh updates: With his demise, the country has lost its son, says AIMIM leader Owaisi

"He was the first PM who worked for the upliftment of marginalised communities and also the Muslim community. With his demise, the country has lost its son," AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi stated today.