Hyderabad
Describing former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao as a dedicated Congress leader, AICC President Sonia Gandhi on Friday said the grand old party takes pride in his accomplishments and contribution, even as she praised him as a "great son" of this country.
"Shri PV Narasimha Rao's tenure was also marked by a number of political, social and foreign policy achievements that have endured. Above all, he was a dedicated Congressman who served the party devotedly in various capacities," she said in a message read out by Telangana Congress President Uttam Kumar Reddy.
The Telangana Congress began its year-long birth centenary celebrations of Rao on July 24 commemorating the day when the first budget claimed to be the first attempt towards economic reforms in the country was presented by his government in 1991. "Shri PV Narasimha Rao was a very respected national and international figure. The Congress party takes pride in his many accomplishments and contributions. The birth centenary of Rao is an occasion to recall and pay tribute to a most scholarly and erudite personality who after a long career in state and national politics, the Prime Minister of the country at a time of "grave economic crisis", Sonia Gandhi added.
She noted the union budget of July 24 1991, paved the way for the economic transformation of our country. Former President Pranab Mukherjee, in his recorded address, said Rao was known for his path-breaking ability to do something which sometimes appeared to be impossible to do.
Manmohan Singh in his address said the former PM can truly be called the father of economic reforms in India.
"Economic reforms and liberalisation were indeed his (Rao's) biggest contributions. His contributions to the country in several different fields cannot be underestimated. On the foreign affairs front, he made efforts to improve our relationship with our neighbours, including China," Singh said.
Recalling his association with Narasimha Rao, Dr Singh said the budget he presented under Rao's leadership in 1991 had changed the country in many ways in terms of economic reforms and liberalisation.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in his message, said Rao had a remarkable political journey which would reflect his grit and determination. Former union ministers P Chidambaram and Jairam Ramesh also recalled their association with Rao.
