"Manmohan Singh was an important PM for country": Congress leader Sushil Shinde

New Delhi [India], December 28 : As the nation is bidding farewell to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde said that he was a gentleman and was one of the important Prime Ministers of the country.
Speaking to reporters, Shinde said, "He was a gentleman. He was an important PM for our country. He used to listen to everyone and always spoke of the poor. He introduced the Aadhar Card."
Shinde also reacted on the issue of allocation of space for a memorial for Manmohan Singh and said, "We will fight for him."
Congress leader Pawan Khera refused to comment on the issue of allocation of space for a memorial, though he said that the entire country is seeing what is going on.
"This is not the right time to comment on this issue. The entire country is seeing what is going on. Not only Congress but the leaders of different political parties are also reacting to it..." Khera told reporters.
The mortal remains of late PM Manmohan Singh are kept at the AICC headquarters for the party workers to pay their last respects.
The last rites of Dr Manmohan Singh are to be performed at Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi today.
Earlier today, the commoners started gathering outside the residence of the former Prime Minister in Delhi to pay their last respects.
Jasmeet, a resident of East Delhi, said that she has come with her husband Hatendra Pal to pay tributes to Manmohan Singh who she credits for making India famous, globally.
Earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over the phone and requested to have the funeral of Dr Manmohan Singh at a place where his memorial can be built, according to a post by the Indian National Congress on X.
"I am writing this in the context of the sad demise of Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India. Apropos our telephonic conversation this morning, wherein I requested to hold Dr Manmohan Singh's last rites, which will take place tomorrow i.e. 28th December 2024, at his final resting place that would be a sacrosanct venue for the memorial of the great son of India. This is in keeping with such tradition of having memorials of statesmen and former Prime Ministers at the very place of their funerals," Kharge wrote in his letter.
Immediately after the Cabinet meeting, Home Minister Amit Shah communicated to Congress President Kharge and the family of Late Dr Manmohan Singh that the Government will allocate space for the memorial. In the meanwhile, cremation and other formalities can happen because a trust has to be formed and space has to be allocated to it.
Dr Manmohan Singh passed away at AIIMS, Delhi, on Thursday at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions. He had a sudden loss of consciousness at home after which he was rushed to the hospital.
Dr Singh's political career spanned several decades, with notable positions including Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996, during which he spearheaded economic reforms that transformed India's economy. He served as the 13th Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014, succeeding Atal Bihari Vajpayee. His tenure is particularly remembered for his steady leadership during economic crises and his contributions to modernizing India's economy.
After his second term, Dr Singh retired from public life, having led India through a period of unprecedented growth and international recognition. He was succeeded by Narendra Modi in 2014 after the Congress-led UPA lost the general elections.