Manmohan, Vohra offer condolences

New Delhi, August 11

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Former PM Manmohan Singh and former Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra on Sunday condoled the demise of Natwar Singh, remembering him as an able administrator and a leader with notable literary disposition.

Manmohan Singh, in his condolence message, said, “Natwar Singh ji was one of our close friends. He was a good politician and an able administrator, which he proved himself as Minister of External Affairs. My wife Gursharan joins me to send our heartfelt condolences to the family on the bereavement.”

Expressing sadness over the loss, Vohra said, “I had known Natwar from the time I joined the service 65 years ago, when he was serving in Prime Minister Nehru’s office, and in the subsequent years, after he forayed into politics. I admired him for his notable literary disposition, for his writings, and for his unwavering loyalty to the political party he had joined. May the Lord rest the departed soul in eternal peace and give his family the strength to bear this irreparable loss.”

The last rites of Natwar Singh will be held at Lodhi crematorium in the national Capital at 2 pm on Monday. His body was kept at the family’s Maharani Farms home in Chhattarpur for people to pay their last respects. Former Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh was by the side of his sister Hem Inder Kaur, who is late Natwar Singh’s widow.

Meanwhile, taking to X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the former EAM’s family. “Pained by the passing away of Natwar Singh. He made rich contributions to the world of diplomacy and foreign policy. He was also known for his intellect as well as prolific writing. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this hour of grief. Om Shanti,” Modi said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge described Natwar Singh as “an acclaimed intellectual and a Padma Bhushan recipient, he made a profound contribution to India’s diplomacy and external affairs”. Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh also took to X and referred to Singh as “a walking encyclopedia of the worlds of Nehru and Indira Gandhi” and a “delightful conversationalist, storyteller and ready wit.” — TNS