PM Narendra Modi all praise for Manmohan Singh’s ‘huge contribution’

New Delhi, February 8

Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly lauded former PM Manmohan Singh’s contribution to Parliament and the country while bidding farewell to retiring members in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

“I want to remember Dr Manmohan Singh today, his contribution has been immense…For such a long time, the way he has guided this House and country, Dr Manmohan Singh will always be remembered for it…,” he said. Recalling Dr Singh’s sense of responsibility, he recalled a trust vote against his government when the former PM was unwell but came in his wheelchair to cast his vote. “This is an example of a member being alert to his duties. Dr Manmohan Singh ji came to Parliament in a wheelchair. How conscious he is of his responsibilities…,” said PM Modi. Extending his best wishes to all retiring members of the Rajya Sabha, Modi said he hoped that they would scale new heights after getting educated in this “eternal university”.

Modi’s laudatory references to Dr Singh were in contrast to his farewell speech on Hamid Anasri’s retirement in 2017 when he reduced his accomplishments and identity to his religion. At that time, Modi had pointedly noted that most of Ansari’s tenure was in West Asia and that he was the chief of the National Commission for Minorities and the VC of Aligarh Muslim University.