PV Narasimha Rao birth anniversary: Top leaders remember former PM

PV Narasimha Rao had served as the 9th prime minister of India from 1991 to 1996.

Several leaders on Tuesday paid tributes to the former prime minister of India PV Narasimha Rao on the occasion of his birth anniversary. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal called the former PM a ‘multifaceted personality’. “Tributes to the former Prime Minister of the country, Shri PV Narasimha Rao ji, who was a multifaceted personality, on his birth anniversary,” Kejriwal wrote on Twitter.

Late former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao’s 95th birth anniversary (File photo)

Also known as the ‘architect of India’ and the ‘father of Indian economic reforms’, PV Narasimha Rao served as the 9th prime minister of India from 1991 to 1996. Born on June 28, 1921, he had steered the country by introducing economic reforms.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh recalled the former prime minister's “statesmanship and contributions” to the nation. “Tributes to former Prime Minister, Shri PV Narasimha Rao ji on his birth anniversary. I recall his statesmanship and contributions to our nation,” he wrote.

Paying tributes, Vice president of India Venkaiah Naidu called PV Narasimha Rao a “visionary statesman and a towering intellectual”. “My humble tributes to former Prime Minister, Shri PV Narasimha Rao on his birth anniversary. A visionary statesman and a towering intellectual, he ushered in major economic reforms . Shri Rao was a multifaceted personality—a polyglot, scholar and writer of repute,” the vice president wrote on Twitter.

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that PV Narasimha Rao was “respected across party lines.” “My tribute to freedom fighter, statesman & former PM Sh PV Narasimha Rao Ji on his birth anniversary. A learned, popular & tall stalwart, he was respected across party lines & was the first Congress PM from outside the dynasty to complete a successful five-year term in office,” he wrote on Twitter.

Union minister G Kishan Reddy offered floral tributes to the “son of Telangana Soil, Polyglot, Statesman and former PM of India” at PV Ghat on Necklace Road in Hyderabad. “Offered floral tributes to the son of Telangana Soil, Polyglot, Statesman & Former Prime Minister of India Sri PV Narasimha Rao Garu, at PV Ghat on Necklace Road, Hyderabad. His pursuit to serve the nation & ability to be a lifelong learner will inspire generations,” he wrote on Twitter, along with pictures.

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot also paid his tributes and said that the former prime minister's “contribution to the nation shall always be remembered”.

Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao paid his “rich tributes" to the former PM. Stating that PV Narasimha Rao “increased the nation's wealth manyfold by his innovative policies”, the CMO added that the state government “draws inspiration from him”.