SRINAGAR, Dec 27: Kashmir’s mainstream leaders and Hurriyat chairman have expressed grief over the passing away of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Singh, 92, died in New Delhi on Thursday evening.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he was very sorry to hear about the demise of former PM Dr Manmohan Singh.
“I had many occasions to interact & learn from him. He was truly an intellectual giant, an accomplished economist but above all he was a thorough gentleman, a giant among pygmies,” Omar said in a post on X.
He added that India has lost a great son with his passing.
“Rest in peace sir & thank you for everything,” Omar said.
Former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said that the late Prime Minister worked tirelessly to advance the peace process.
“I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Manmohan Singh & I am certain that he was one of the most humble and gentle souls I’ve encountered – an extremely rare trait in politicians today. His humility & kindness were evident even during his double tenure as Prime Minister when he would personally return calls. Despite the challenges he faced, Dr. Singh worked tirelessly to advance the peace process and usher in a new era of development in Jammu and Kashmir,” Mufti said in a post on X, while posting a picture of her late father Mufti Sayeed and Manmohan Singh.
She said Singh was a man of few words whose welfare schemes brought relief to millions of Indians cutting across caste, creed & religion.
All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwiaz Umar Farooq on Friday said that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh believed in open borders and lasting peace with neighbors.
Mirwiaz in a message of condolence said that he was saddened by the demise of the former PM.
” I recall our meetings, both during his tenure as PM and before, where his sincerity towards dialogue on Kashmir and fostering people-to-people contact across borders was evident. He believed in open borders and lasting peace with neighbors and engaged with us in Hurriyat with an open mind,” Mirwiaz said in a post on X.
Mirwaiz said Singh was “a statesman committed to harmony and resolution.”
In September 2005, Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister held the first-ever official talks with the moderate Kashmiri separatist leaders including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Abdul Gani Bhat, Maulana Abbas Ansari, Fazal Haque Qureshi and Bilal Lone.
Peoples Conference chairman and MLA Handwara, Sajad Lone said the economist Prime Minister will always be known for his pioneering reforms and liberalisation.
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