New Delhi: Rich tributes and homage poured in from across the world after the passing away of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. While expressing grief over his demise, they highlighted his contribution to bilateral ties.
In a post on X, former President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, said that India has lost one of its most illustrious sons. Dubbing him as an “unwavering ally and friend to the people of Afghanistan”, Karzai deeply mourned Singh’s death.
“India has lost one of its most illustrious sons. #Dr_Manmohan_Singh was an unwavering ally and friend to the people of #Afghanistan. I profoundly mourn his passing and extend my deepest condolences to his family, the government, and the people of India. May his soul find eternal peace”, Karzai said on X.
#India has lost one of its most illustrious sons. #Dr_Manmohan_Singh was an unwavering ally and friend to the people of #Afghanistan. I profoundly mourn his passing and extend my deepest condolences to his family, the government, and the people of India.
May his soul find… pic.twitter.com/ZrY5bCFVIR— Hamid Karzai (@KarzaiH) December 26, 2024
Writing on X, former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed said that he found Singh as a “benevolent father figure” and a good friend of Maldives.
“So sad to hear Manmohan Singh has passed. I always found him a delight to work with, and like a benevolent father figure. He was a good friend of the Maldives.”
Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov said that the death of Singh is a moment of poignant sorrow and grief for India and Russia.
Taking to X, he wrote: “It is moment of poignant sorrow and grief for India and for Russia. Dr Manmohan Singh’s contribution to our bilateral ties was immeasurable. His suave demeanor was always endearing as unquestionable was his expertise as an economist and his commitment to the progress of India.”
It is moment of poignant sorrow and grief for India and for Russia. Dr Manmohan Singh‘s contribution to our bilateral ties was immeasurable. His suave demeanor was always endearing as unquestionable was his expertise as an economist and his commitment to the progress of India. pic.twitter.com/rxjUQsFgj5
— Denis Alipov 🇷🇺 (@AmbRus_India) December 26, 2024
‘When the prime minister speaks, people listen’: What Obama said about him
Former US President Barack Obama credited Singh with the “modernisation of his nation’s economy”, and called him “a gentle, soft-spoken economist” with a “white beard and a turban that were the marks of his Sikh faith but to the Western eye lent him the air of a holy man”.
In 2010, ahead of their bilateral meeting during a G20 summit in Toronto, Obama lauded the then PM Singh and said: “I can tell you that here at G20 when the prime minister speaks, people listen. That is because of his deep knowledge of economic issues, the nuances of India’s rise as a world power and his commitment towards global peace and prosperity.”
Former Japanese Prime Minister the late Shinzo Abe looked up to Singh as his mentor. Abe’s top aide Tomohiko Taniguchi revealed this during the premier’s Indian visit in 2014.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel also sought Singh’s advice on economic matters. In 2013, when the Chancellor was going to the first eurozone crisis meeting to discuss the Greek crisis, she reportedly instructed her aides to get Singh on the line. The impromptu conversation went on for around 45 minutes.
Former International Atomic Energy Agency director-general and Egyptian presidential challenger Mohamed ElBaradei said Singh was “the model of what a political leader should be”.
