Logo

Logo

PM Modi, vice-President, Congress pay tribute to PV Narasimha Rao on birth anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to pay homage to the Congress leader who served as the 9th Prime Minister of India from 1991-1996.

PM Modi, vice-President, Congress pay tribute to PV Narasimha Rao on birth anniversary

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

The Prime Minister, the Vice-President and the Congress party paid tributes to former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao on his 97th birth anniversary on Thursday, 28 June.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to pay homage to the Congress leader who served as the 9th Prime Minister of India from 1991-1996.

“Remembering our former PM Shri PV Narasimha Rao on his birth anniversary,” wrote the PM on Twitter, “Shri Rao is widely respected as a statesman who provided valuable leadership during a critical period of India’s history.”

Advertisement

The PM was referring to the time when India went through a series of politically turbulent incidents such as the Babri Masjid demolition, the Bombay bomb blasts and rising separatism in Jammu-Kashmir.

“Blessed with immense wisdom, he made a mark as a distinguished scholar as well,” the PM added.

 

In his tribute, vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu hailed Rao for his contribution to India’s economic liberalisation.

“Remembering former Prime Minister Shri PV Narasimha Rao on his birth anniversary. He was scholar who played key role in reforming Indian Economy. Shri Rao will be rembered for his knowledge and wisdom,” wrote Naidu.

 

The Congress party, in its tribute, recognised Rao as “the Chanakya” for his ability to govern a nation in spite of leading a minority government.

“We remember PV Narasimha Rao, India’s 9th Prime Minister, on his birth anniversary today. He was referred to as Chanakya for his ability to steer tough economic & political legislation through the parliament at a time when he headed a minority Govt,” read the tribute posted by the official Congress Twitter handle.

 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, too, paid tribute to Rao.

Born in Laknepalli village in Warangal district of the then Hyderabad State (now Telangana), Rao was a freedom fighter who began his political career with the Congress post Independence.

He served as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from September 1971 to January 1973 and later held key Cabinet portfolios of Defence, Home and External Affairs in the governments led by Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

Rao took retirement from active politics in 1991 but the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi after the first phase of polling in that year’s general elections forced him to hold the reins of the party.

It was during Rao’s tenure that India shed its socialist economic practice and opened the country to foreign investment besides a series of economic reforms.

The former PM, who passed away on 23 December 2004, is also credited with bringing formed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh into politics.

Advertisement