When Manmohan Singh went to Rajya Sabha in wheelchair and Prime Minister Modi praised him

New Delhi:

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh died of age-related illnesses on Thursday. Mr. Singh, considered one of the architects of the 1991 economic reforms that saved India from bankruptcy, was 92 years old.

When Mr. Singh visited Parliament in August last year, he had arrived in the Rajya Sabha in a wheelchair. He had attended the Rajya Sabha session where ‘The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023’ was discussed.

The bill, which later came into force, replaced an ordinance that wrested control of Delhi’s bureaucracy from the Aam Aadmi Party-led government.

During the winter session of Parliament in December last year, he also came to Parliament in a wheelchair.

When Mr Singh completed 33 years of parliamentary service in the Rajya Sabha this year, he received praise from his successor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Prime Minister Modi bid farewell to the outgoing members and recalled how Mr. Singh arrived in Parliament in a wheelchair to vote on an important bill.

“I remember when the House of Representatives voted it was known that the finance minister would win, but Dr. Manmohan Singh came in his wheelchair and cast his vote. This is an example of a member being aware of their responsibilities. “He was an inspiring example,” he said.

The Prime Minister said it was not about who Mr Singh supported and he believed “he was only strengthening this democracy”.

Manmohan Singh’s contributions as a leader and in the opposition have been immense, the prime minister said. “Ideological differences are short-lived, but the way Manmohan Singh led this House and the country over such a long period of time will be remembered for his contributions in every discussion of our democracy,” he added.

“I pray that he lives long and continues to lead us,” he had said.

Even in the 2022 presidential election, Mr. Singh came in a wheelchair to cast his vote.