Assam Declares Seven-Day Mourning to Honor Former PM Manmohan Singh

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has declared a seven-day state mourning following the death of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who passed away at the age of 92. The mourning period will last from December 26, 2024, to January 1, 2025, during which the national flag will fly at half-mast across all state government buildings, and all official entertainment events will be canceled.Sarma took to social media to express the state’s respect for Dr. Singh, saying, “As a mark of respect to Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji, Former Prime Minister of India, the Government of Assam will observe a period of seven-day state mourning.” Singh, known as the architect of India’s economic liberalization, passed away at AIIMS Delhi on December 26, 2024.Leaders across Assam paid tribute to Singh’s contributions to India’s economic growth and global stature. Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya praised Singh for his pivotal role in strengthening India’s economy.n his tribute, Chief Minister Sarma, who had worked closely with Singh during his tenure as a Congress minister, described him as a person of “humility and intellectual brilliance.” He emphasized how Singh’s simplicity and decency left a lasting impression on him.Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also recognized Singh’s significant influence on India’s economic revival. “He was a man of humility and knowledge, whose impact on India’s growth is immeasurable,” Sonowal stated.Political leaders from various parties, including BJP, Raijor Dal, and Assam Jatiya Parishad, praised Singh’s transformative economic policies, with the Assam BJP acknowledging his role in abolishing the License Raj and liberalizing India’s economy. Representing Assam in the Rajya Sabha for 28 years, Dr. Singh is remembered fondly in the state, marking the end of an era in Indian politics and economics.