Manmohan Singh: Manmohan Ends Rs Stint, Kharge Lauds ‘quiet Dignity’ | India News

NEW DELHI: With former PM Manmohan Singh retiring from Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, bringing an end to his long parliamentary career, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to him that “very few people can say they have served our nation with more dedication and devotion than you” and “very few have accomplished as much as you for the nation and its people”.

In a letter of gratitude to Singh, Kharge said, “The nation misses the quiet yet strong dignity that you brought to the office of the PM. Your dignified, measured, soft spoken yet statesman like words are in contrast to the loud voices filled with lies that signify the current politics. The current political situation is such that unscrupulousness is being equated with astute leadership.”

Kharge said economic prosperity and stability that the country enjoys today rests on the foundation laid by late PM Narasimha Rao and Singh. Without naming PM Narendra Modi, the Congress chief said, “The current set of leaders who have reaped benefits of your work are reluctant to credit you due to political biases. In fact, they seem to go out of their way to speak ill about you and make personal attacks against you.”

He said reforms done by the present BJP govt are legacy of UPA, like the direct benefits transfer, UID, Aadhaar, which were “hijacked by the succeeding govt without giving you credit.” He said some of Singh’s good works have been undone, including deregulation of petrol and diesel prices.
Appreciating Singh, Kharge said UPA demonstrated that it was possible to pursue economic policies that were equally beneficial to industries, young entrepreneurs, small businesses, salaried class and the poor.