City residents pay tributes to former PM Manmohan Singh

The alumni association of SCD Government College here paid rich tributes to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away on Thursday. The alumni of the college, including entrepreneurs, bankers, teachers, retired bureaucrats and ex-servicemen, condoled the demise of Dr Singh.

Sharing pictorial memories with the former Prime Minister, SS Bhogal, Onkar Singh Pahwa, Jagdish Singla, TC Jain, DS Chawala, Gurmit S Kular, Dalbir S Mauli and other entrepreneurs described him as a visionary economist and a statesman whose policies benefitted the country in competing with the world economy. The bankers, including KB Singh, Brij B Goyal, AK Thaman and Shashi Bhushan, stated that the former PM’s banking initiatives benefited the common man immensely.

Teachers Prof PK Sharma, Prof J S Sidhu, principal Manjit S Sandhu, Prof P D Gupta, Prof Geetanjli and Prof Narinder Mason lauded his scholarly pursuits, which will inspire generations. Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon, IAS (retd), MP Arora IAS (retd), Jolly and Col Pardeep Jawanda talked about his bewitching humility and honesty. Brij Bhushan Goyal, organising secretary of the alumni association, recalled about initiatives taken by Dr Singh which include National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Right to Education Act (RTE), 2009, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), Civil Nuclear Agreement with the United States, National Food Security Act, 2013, Aadhaar Project, Mandatory CSR from companies. The alumni said youth should emulate passion for hard work, honesty and humility of Dr Manmohan Singh, who rose from a commoner to a well-known economist across the world.

FICO observed silence and paid tributes to the former Prime Minister. In a joint statement, FICO leaders, including Gurmit Kular, KK Seth, said Dr Singh had served as the RBI Governor and the Union Finance Minister. He presented the milestone Budget of 1991, which liberalised the Indian economy and inaugurated nation’s journey as a major world economy.

“He did so much for rural wages and handled global financial crisis for which he was praised across the world. He was a true soul who worked quietly. Dr Singh put India on path where it is emerging as a major economic power in the world. Former US president Barack Obama called him Guru and said when Manmohan Singh speaks, people listen,” Kular said.

The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) legal cell has mourned the death of the former Prime Minister, describing him as the architect of India’s economy during a period of global financial crisis.

They credited his visionary leadership and economic policies for safeguarding India’s economy and steering the nation towards growth and stability in turbulent times.

In a statement, PPCC legal cell’s former state chairman PD Sharma, district chairman Dharamjeet Singh Khera, convener Ashok Bhakri, Satwinder Sharma, Ajay Johar, Kamaljit Sharma and Vishal Tewari expressed sorrow over the loss. They called Dr Singh’s demise a monumental loss to the nation and highlighted his contribution as a statesman whose humility and intellect inspired millions.

They emphasised Dr Singh’s role in shaping modern India, stating that his tenure as Prime Minister and Finance Minister laid the foundation for India’s emergence as a global economic power, adding that his life and legacy would continue to inspire generations to serve the nation with dedication and integrity.