Manipur Congress remembers former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for “massive” contribution to state

Manipur Congress on Sunday paid tribute to former <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/business/story/manmohan-singh-indian-economy-global-standing-key-reforms-1991-economic-liberalisation-2656166-2024-12-27″ target=”_blank”>Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and remembered his contribution to the development of the northeastern state as “massive”.

Two-time Prime Minister <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/manmohan-singh-funeral-cremation-state-mourning-resting-place-congress-2656392-2024-12-27?utm_source=global-search&utm_medium=global-search&utm_campaign=global-search” target=”_blank”>Manmohan Singh passed away at the age of 92 on Thursday and was cremated in Delhi on Saturday with top leaders from the Congress as well as the ruling BJP attending his funeral.

In a condolence meeting held at the Congress Bhavan in Imphal on Sunday, party cadres paid homage to the <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/fm-be-like-manmohan-singh-why-pm-raos-pick-thrilled-montek-ahluwalia-2656742-2024-12-28?utm_source=global-search&utm_medium=global-search&utm_campaign=global-search” target=”_blank”>architect of the 1991 economic reforms.

Congress Legislature Party Leader Okram Ibobi Singh, while speaking to the media, said that the contributions of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the development of northeastern states, particularly Manipur, during his 10-year term were massive.

“He loved Manipur and recognised the need to grant Special Category Status to the state under which a lot of financial assistance was given. Under this, several infrastructural developments were taken up, including the construction of the new assembly building and the high court building. In the hill districts too, several key infrastructural projects of district administration, including district hospitals, were undertaken. Several power sub-stations were also built,” Ibobi Singh said.

State congress president Keisham Meghachandra remembered former PM Singh as the first leader who lifted the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Manipur.

“Dr Manmohan will be remembered in the history of Manipur as he is the first prime minister to lift AFSPA from the state. When it was lifted from seven assembly segments and handed over the Kangla Fort (from the Assam Rifles) to the people of the state. Both of these are long standing demands of the people,” Meghachandra said.

“He initiated reformation and restructured infrastructural developments. Present India and present Manipur is the outcome of Dr Manmohan’s work” he added.

<a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/manmohan-singh-accidental-prime-minister-politician-sonia-gandhi-reforms-indo-us-nuclear-deal-2656396-2024-12-28?utm_source=global-search&utm_medium=global-search&utm_campaign=global-search” target=”_blank”>Manmohan Singh served as India’s Prime Minister for two consecutive terms from 2004 to 2014 in the Congress-led UPA coalition government. He was also the Union Finance Minister in the PV Narsimha Rao Cabinet during the 1991 economic liberalisation, a landmark moment in his political career.