United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed heartfelt condolences on the demise of former Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, lauding his pivotal role in fostering closer ties between India and the United States.
In a tribute that underscored Dr. Singh’s enduring legacy, Blinken praised his leadership and contributions to advancing economic reforms in India and cementing the US-India strategic partnership. Highlighting the landmark US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, Blinken described it as a testament to Dr. Singh’s vision and commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
“The United States offers our sincere condolences to the people of India for the passing of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh,” Blinken said in a statement. He added, “Dr. Singh was one of the greatest champions of the US-India strategic partnership. His work laid the foundation for much of what our countries have accomplished together in the past two decades.
His leadership in advancing the US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement signified a major investment in the potential of the US-India relationship. At home, Dr. Singh will be remembered for his economic reforms that spurred India’s rapid economic growth. We mourn Dr. Singh’s passing and will always remember his dedication to bringing the United States and India closer together.”
Dr. Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday evening at AIIMS, Delhi, at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions. According to an official statement from AIIMS, he experienced a sudden loss of consciousness at home and was rushed to the hospital. Despite resuscitative efforts, he was declared dead at 9:51 PM on December 26.
Dr. Singh, who retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year after 33 years of service, was born in Punjab in 1932. A stalwart of Indian politics and economics, he served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, steering the nation through a decade of significant growth and policy transformation.
(Inputs from ANI)