Rashpal Malhotra’s services will always be remembered, says Manmohan Singh

New Delhi, May 5

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday condoled the passing away of his friend and Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) founder Rashpal Malhotra, saying the services of the noted academician would always be remembered.

“It was with profound shock and sorrow that I learnt about the untimely passing away of my beloved friend Malhotra. It is really unthinkable and unbelievable that such an active and healthy person like him will leave us in such a sad way,” Singh said in his condolence message.

The former PM remembered Malhotra as one of his closest friends for the past six decades and said, “Malhotra was an eminent academician, an excellent administrator and a very good human being who was a champion in the field of social research. He founded the CRRID in Chandigarh. One can well say that through CRRID he was able to put Chandigarh on the international map on issues of economy, agriculture, banking, resource mobilisation, health and international relations.” Recalling Malhotra’s urge for peace between India and Pakistan, the former PM said Malhotra “persuaded to forge” an academic link between Panjab University, Chandigarh, and Punjab University, Lahore.

“An intense votary of peace between India and Pakistan and good neighbourly relations, Malhotra wanted the two universities to hold online classes for each other’s students. His services to the nation, especially Punjab, will always be remembered by all who happened to come in contact with his work,” he said. — TNS

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