Indira Peace Prize for Manmohan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 18

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been chosen for the 2017 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development by the international jury which made the announcement here tonight.

A statement from Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, institutor of the award, said, “The award is being presented to Dr Singh for his leadership of the country and its achievements during the momentous 10 years from 2004 to 2014, for his contribution to the cause of economic and social development, for improving India’s stature in the world and for improving its relationship with the neighbours and nations of the world and for his dedication to the security and wellbeing of ordinary citizens regardless of their faith, caste, region or language.”

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The award salutes the many contributions of Dr Singh, only the third Prime Minister to complete two successful terms. A statement from the trust which instituted the award in 1986 added that Dr Singh was chosen unanimously for the honour. The international jury for the award was headed by former President Pranab Mukherjee.

The trust said Manmohan Singh's tenure witnessed the path-breaking nuclear agreement with the United States and the Copenhagen Climate Change Agreement among other achievements.

It cited the illustrious career of Manmohan Singh, a former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, former Finance Minister in the PV Narasimha Rao Government and ex-Secretary General of the South Commission based in Geneva.

The statement said Dr Singh as Finance Minister in 1991 was responsible for piloting economic liberalisation that transformed the Indian economy and enabled it to meet the challenges of globalisation while ushering it on the path of sustainable growth.

"The 10 years of his Prime Minister-ship were not only a period of rapid economic and social changes, but also witnessed the lowest terrorist violence, prolonged period of communal harmony, peace on the country's borders and a globally acknowledged rise in India's standing in the global community of nations," the statement said on the eve of the 100th birth anniversary of former PM Indira Gandhi.