Jammu, Mar 3 : The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly convened today for the Budget Session also paid tributes to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, as well as other former parliamentarians and legislators who passed away since the last session.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, speaking during the obituary reference, acknowledged the invaluable contributions of Dr. Manmohan Singh in shaping India’s economy and his pro-people initiatives. Recalling Dr. Singh’s tenure, the Chief Minister noted his landmark economic reforms and dedication to public welfare.
“Dr. Singh inherited a complex and difficult situation, yet he chose the path of dialogue and reconciliation,” said CM Omar Abdullah, highlighting Dr. Singh’s efforts to bring Jammu and Kashmir closer to resolving its long-standing issues. He also mentioned Dr. Singh’s role in addressing the 2010 unrest in the region and his commitment to the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, including the establishment of townships like Jagti and the PM Package for employment.
“His leadership never wavered in times of crisis, and his actions continue to influence the path towards peace and development in the region,” the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister, who is also the Leader of the House, reflected on the Assembly’s tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee just four months ago and remarked, “Today, we mourn the loss of another great statesman—Dr. Manmohan Singh.”
CM Omar Abdullah went on to speak about Dr. Singh’s significant contributions to India’s economic transformation. “When Dr. Singh took charge as Finance Minister, India was in dire economic straits. It was his vision and policies that paved the way for India’s economic liberalization,” he noted, emphasizing how Dr. Singh dismantled the license-permit raj, which unleashed the potential of India’s private sector and set the country on a path of sustained growth.
He also highlighted Dr. Singh’s focus on social welfare programs like the Indira Awas Yojana and MGNREGA, which benefited millions across the country.
The Chief Minister paid tribute to Dr. Singh’s contributions to Jammu and Kashmir’s infrastructure, particularly the Jammu-Srinagar Highway and the Chenab Rail Bridge. “Though Dr. Singh did not live to see the first train cross the Chenab Rail Bridge, its completion is a tribute to his vision,” said CM Omar Abdullah.
Recalling Dr. Singh’s last press conference, the Chief Minister quoted him: “History will be a better judge of me than contemporary times.” CM Omar Abdullah remarked that as time passes, the true depth of Dr. Singh’s legacy will become increasingly evident.
Sharing a personal reflection, the Chief Minister spoke about his privilege of working closely with Dr. Singh. “Dr. Singh’s leadership was quiet yet resolute. He never raised his voice, never sought attention, and never hesitated to correct a mistake when needed,” CM Omar Abdullah said, concluding that “His absence leaves a void, but his contributions will continue to shape India for generations to come.”
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly also paid rich tributes to Dr. Manmohan Singh, describing him as a statesman whose contributions will be remembered forever. The Speaker recalled Dr. Singh’s pivotal role in shaping India’s economy and his dedication to national welfare.
In addition to Dr. Singh, the Speaker and members of the House paid tribute to other former legislators and parliamentarians, including former Minister Syed Ghulam Hussain Geelani, former MP Shamsher Singh Manhas, and former MLAs Ghulam Hassan Parrey and Choudhary Paira Singh.
During the obituary reference, members of the Legislative Assembly, including MLAs Mubarak Gul, Sham Lal Sharma, Dr. Narinder Singh, Dr. Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Abdul Majeed Larmi, Mohd Rafiq Naikoo, Vikram Randhawa, Nizamuddin Bhat, Satish Kumar Sharma, and Iftikhar Ahmed, also paid tribute to Dr. Manmohan Singh and the other former parliamentarians and legislators who passed since the last session. A two-minute silence was observed in their remembrance.
