Biden hails Manmohan Singh’s visionary leadership in US-India ties
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File Image: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden during a meeting at 7 RCR, New Delhi, on November 16, 2021.
San Francisco: US President Joe Biden paid tribute to former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, describing him as a visionary leader and statesman whose contributions significantly advanced US-India relations. Singh, who served as India’s Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, passed away in New Delhi on Thursday night at the age of 92.
In a statement, Biden highlighted Singh’s pivotal role in shaping the strong bilateral cooperation between the two nations. He said the current unprecedented level of partnership “would not have been possible without the Prime Minister’s strategic vision and political courage.”
Biden, along with the First Lady, Jill Biden, joined the people of India in mourning the loss of the former Prime Minister. He acknowledged Singh’s contributions to landmark initiatives, including the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement and the launch of the first Quad partnership among Indo-Pacific nations. He noted that these achievements represented “path-breaking progress that will continue to strengthen our nations and the world for generations.”
Biden described Singh as a dedicated public servant and a kind and humble individual, and he reflected on his personal interactions with the late leader. He recalled their meeting in 2008 when Biden served as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as during Singh’s Official State Visit to the United States in 2009 when Biden was Vice President. Singh also hosted Biden in New Delhi in 2013, where the two leaders discussed the growing importance of US-India relations.
Biden remarked that the US-India partnership is “among the most consequential in the world” and emphasized the shared potential of the two nations to build a future marked by dignity and boundless opportunities for their people.
In his tribute, Biden expressed his condolences to Singh’s family and the people of India, affirming a commitment to advancing the vision Singh championed throughout his life. He said this moment of grief served as a reminder to continue working towards the ideals that Singh stood for.
Biden concluded by extending his deepest sympathies to Singh’s wife, Gursharan Kaur, their three children, and the people of India, reaffirming the late leader’s enduring legacy.
With PTI inputs