Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh passes away at 92

Singh, who was Prime Minister between 2004 and 2014 and Finance Minister between 1991 and 1996, was ailing for some time.

New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who steered India into the world of financial reforms in the 1990s, breathed his last at a hospital here on Thursday night after prolonged illness.

The 92-year-old bureaucrat-turned-politician, the country's first Prime Minister from a minority community, was brought to the AIIMS Emergency Department in the evening in a critical condition after "sudden loss of consciousness" but breathed his last after doctors' efforts failed.

He is survived by wife Gursharan Kaur and three daughters.

Official sources said the government would declare a seven day national mourning. All official programmes scheduled for Friday has been cancelled and his last rights will be conducted with full state honours.

Singh, who was Prime Minister between 2004 and 2014 and Finance Minister between 1991 and 1996, was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had a “sudden loss of consciousness” while he was at home.

"Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency at AIIMS at 8:06 PM. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 PM," the AIIMS said in a statement.

Condolences poured in as the elderly statesman bid adieu to life with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who succeeded Singh in 2014, said India mourns the "loss of one of its most distinguished leaders".

"Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives," Modi said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi left for Delhi from Karnataka's Belagavi where they had attended Congress Working Committee meeting. Kharge, who was a Minister in Singh's cabinet, said, "I mourn the loss of a lifelong senior colleague, a gentle intellectual and a humble soul who embodied the aspirations of India, having risen through the ranks with unwavering dedication."

Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra rushed to AIIMS after the news of his death was announced. Priyanka described him as a "genuinely egalitarian, wise, strong willed and courageous" and "a uniquely dignified and gentleman in the rough world of politics".

"Few people in politics inspire the kind of respect that Sardar Manmohan Singh-ji did. His honesty will always be an inspiration for us and he will forever stand tall among those who truly love this country as someone who remained steadfast in his commitment to serve the nation despite being subjected to unfair and deeply personal attacks by his opponents," he said.

A bureaucrat, Singh was brought into politics by then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao by making him the Finance Minister. After Congress lost power, he still remained relevant though a section in the party blamed his policies for the electoral rout in 1996.

Under Sonia, he was made Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and when the Congress-led coalition was in a position to form the government, the then Congress chief chose him to be the Prime Minister.