Sonia pays tribute to 'friend, philosopher, guide'

Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi on Friday described former prime minister Manmohan Singh's death as a "deeply personal loss", calling him her "friend, philosopher and guide" who transformed India with his wisdom and compassion.

- Abhishek Angad

NEW DELHI:

The tribute came as the Congress Working Committee (CWC) convened a special meeting to mourn the passing of the party's only Prime Minister outside the Nehru-Gandhi family to complete two full terms in office.

"In Dr Manmohan Singh's passing, we have lost a leader who was the epitome of wisdom, nobility and humility, who served our country with all his heart and mind. A luminous and beloved guiding light for the Congress party, his compassion and vision transformed and empowered the lives of millions of Indians," said Gandhi, who had backed Singh for the prime minister's post in 2004 after declining to take the position herself.

Highlighting Singh's far-reaching impact across the political spectrum, Gandhi emphasised his unique ability to bridge divides. "He was loved by the people of India for his pure heart and fine mind. His advice, wise counsel and views were eagerly sought and deeply valued across the political spectrum in our country. Respected and admired by leaders and scholars all over the world, he was hailed as a statesman of immense wisdom and stature," Gandhi added.

The timing of Singh's death created a poignant contrast for the Congress party -the CWC had met just 24 hours earlier in Belagavi to mark the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi's appointment as Congress president and to plan a major campaign against the BJP. The mood shifted dramatically as the committee reconvened to honour Singh's memory on Friday.

Gandhi's tribute captured the personal dimension of Singh's leadership.