Kharge, Shivakumar pay tribute to Manmohan Singh on birth anniversary
Synopsis
On what is Dr Manmohan Singh's first birth anniversary since his passing, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar led a wave of tributes — reminding India that the architect of 1991 liberalisation and the rights-based social laws of the UPA decade left a legacy the opposition continues to invoke as a political and moral benchmark.
Key Takeaways
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge paid tribute to Dr Manmohan Singh on his birth anniversary on 26 September 2026 via a post on X.
Kharge credited Dr Singh with transforming India’s growth trajectory through landmark economic reforms and championing inclusive governance.
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K.
Shivakumar recalled Dr Singh’s contribution to Bengaluru Metro and Karnataka’s development.
As Finance Minister in 1991 , Dr Singh initiated economic liberalisation reforms widely credited with modernising the Indian economy.
During his tenure as PM from 2004 to 2014 , landmark laws including MGNREGS , the RTI Act , and the RTE Act were enacted.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday, 26 September paid tribute to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on his birth anniversary, honouring the late statesman's transformative contributions to India's economic growth and nation-building. Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar also joined in remembrance, as did the Congress party collectively.
Kharge's Tribute on X
Kharge took to social media platform X to mark the occasion, writing: “We remember with profound respect the extraordinary contribution of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to India’s nation-building. A visionary statesman, his landmark economic reforms transformed India’s growth trajectory, created new opportunities and helped lift millions out of poverty.”
The Congress president further noted Dr Singh’s personal qualities, stating: “His humility, integrity and wisdom defined his public life. He led with quiet dignity and compassion, placing inclusive growth and the welfare of the most vulnerable at the heart of governance. The rights-based framework of his government remains an enduring testament to this vision.” Kharge concluded by saying Dr Singh’s legacy of “honest public service, inclusive development and transformative reforms will continue to inspire generations.”
Shivakumar Recalls Singh's Role in Karnataka
Chief Minister Shivakumar described Dr Singh as “a scholar, economist and statesman” who “served India with remarkable humility, integrity and a deep sense of duty.” He specifically recalled Dr Singh’s contribution to Bengaluru, noting that when laying the foundation stone for the Bengaluru Metro, the former PM had spoken of the need to develop Bengaluru alongside Karnataka’s broader progress, “recognising that the two were inseparable.”
Congress Party's Collective Homage
The Indian National Congress (INC) party also issued a tribute, calling Dr Singh “a distinguished economist and statesman” whose “humility, integrity and commitment to public service defined his remarkable journey.” The party stated that his contributions to India’s economic progress “will always be remembered.”
The Manmohan Singh Legacy
Dr Singh’s name is widely regarded as synonymous with India’s 1991 economic liberalisation, when, as Finance Minister, he initiated a sweeping set of reforms that dismantled the licence raj, opened Indian markets to foreign investment, and set the country on a sustained high-growth trajectory. During his decade-long tenure as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, landmark social legislation including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the Right to Information (RTI) Act, and the Right to Education (RTE) Act were enacted, collectively forming the rights-based governance framework that his admirers point to as his most enduring domestic legacy.
This comes as the Congress party, currently in opposition, has consistently invoked Dr Singh’s legacy as a counterpoint to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) economic record — making birth and death anniversaries politically resonant occasions beyond mere remembrance. Dr Singh passed away in December 2024, making this the first birth anniversary since his death.
Point of View
And this one is no exception. With the Congress in opposition and the BJP’s economic record under scrutiny, invoking Dr Singh’s 1991 reforms and the UPA’s rights-based legislation is a calibrated political act as much as an act of remembrance. What is striking is the emphasis on the rights-based framework — MGNREGS, RTI, RTE — rather than purely on GDP growth, signalling that the party sees this social architecture, not just liberalisation, as its most durable electoral asset. The real question is whether such tributes translate into a coherent economic counter-narrative, or remain symbolic gestures.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Dr Manmohan Singh's birth anniversary significant in 2026?
This is the first birth anniversary of Dr Manmohan Singh following his death in December 2024, making tributes from political leaders particularly resonant this year. He is remembered as the architect of India's 1991 economic liberalisation and for a decade of rights-based social legislation as Prime Minister.
What did Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge say about Dr Manmohan Singh?
Kharge described Dr Singh as a 'visionary statesman' whose landmark economic reforms transformed India's growth trajectory and helped lift millions out of poverty. He also highlighted Dr Singh's humility, integrity, and commitment to inclusive governance and the welfare of vulnerable citizens.
What were Dr Manmohan Singh's key contributions as Prime Minister?
During his tenure from 2004 to 2014, Dr Singh oversaw the enactment of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the Right to Information Act, and the Right to Education Act. These laws are collectively regarded as the foundation of his rights-based governance framework.
What did D.K. Shivakumar say about Dr Manmohan Singh's connection to Karnataka?
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar recalled that Dr Singh, while laying the foundation stone for the Bengaluru Metro, had spoken of the need to develop Bengaluru alongside Karnataka's broader progress. Shivakumar described this as evidence of Dr Singh's understanding that the city's and state's growth were inseparable.
What were Dr Manmohan Singh's 1991 economic reforms?
As Finance Minister in 1991, Dr Singh initiated sweeping liberalisation measures that dismantled the licence raj, opened Indian markets to foreign investment, and set India on a sustained high-growth path. The reforms are widely credited as the most consequential structural transformation of the post-independence Indian economy.
