Manmohan Singh duly respected the aspirations of Tamil Nadu: CM Stalin

Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin praises former PM Manmohan Singh's contributions to Tamil Nadu during UPA regime.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday (January 7, 2025) said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh duly respected the aspirations of Tamil Nadu and introduced several initiatives benefiting the State during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime at the Centre between 2004 and 2014.

Unveiling the portraits of Manmohan Singh and former Union Minister E.V.K.S. Elangovan during a meeting organised by Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) in Chennai, Mr. Stalin said the two leaders were great pillars for the Congress party at the national and State level, respectively. “They left us one after the other. Their passing is not only a loss for the Congress party and the country, it is a personal loss to me. Being a renowned economist worldwide, Manmohan Singh could have led his life leisurely, like other economists. But his entry into politics was unexpected. At a crucial time, he assumed office as Finance Minister and brought in slew of policy reforms that laid the foundation for growth of the Indian economy,” he said.

During his tenure as Prime Minister various landmark legislations were passed including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Right to Information Act, Right to Education Act, National Food Security Act, The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, and The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, Mr. Stalin said.

The Chief Minister also said 21 Tamils – eight Cabinet Ministers and 13 Ministers of State – were part of Manmohan Singh’s Cabinet. They were given important portfolios and as a result several significant steps were taken for the benefit of Tamil Nadu including declaration of Tamil as classical language, establishment of Central Institute of Classical Tamil in Chennai, Salem Railway Division, National Institute of Siddha at Tambaram, Central University of Tamil Nadu at Tiruvarur, Indian Maritime University, 6,000 kms of national highways, and foundation for Sethu Samudram project, he said.

“The death of Elangovan was an irreparable loss to me. I still remember the moments of meeting him at the hospital… He was known for his criticisms with clarity, without any fear. Whether he supported or opposed anything, he always stood firm. He was the one who called our Dravida model government as the Kamaraj government. As TNCC president, MP, MLA and Union Minister, he had left an indelible mark in roles he assumed,” Mr. Stalin said.

TNCC president K. Selvaperunthagai, former Union Minister P. Chidambaram, AICC General Secretary in-charge of Tamil Nadu Ajoy Kumar, AICC Secretary for Tamil Nadu Suraj M.N. Hegde, VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan, MDMK general secretary Vaiko, Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani, CPI (M) State secretary P. Shanmugam, CPI State secretary R. Mutharasan, former TNCC presidents, Congress MPs, MLAs and leaders of the INDIA bloc were among others present.