PV Narasimha Rao served as the 9th Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996. (File)
Former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao was remembered by various leaders on the occasion of his birth anniversary today. He was an Indian lawyer and politician who served as the 9th Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to PV Narasimha Rao and remembered him as one of the most experienced leaders of India, who always raised his voice against injustice and led the country through a critical phase.
"India is paying homage to one of her former Prime Ministers, who led the country through a critical phase. This day marks the commencement of the birth centenary year of our former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. When we talk about him, naturally, his image that emerges before us is that of a political leader, but it is also true that he was a polyglot," said PM Modi during his episode of monthly-radio programme Mann Ki Baat.
The Prime Minister said that PV Narasimha Rao used to speak many Indian and foreign languages and he was rooted in Indian values and had knowledge of Western literature and science as well.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu paid glowing tributes to him on his birth anniversary and recalled the pioneering role played by him in initiating economic reforms at a critical juncture when the Indian economy was on the brink of collapse. "He sought to dismantle the restrictions imposed under the license raj, reduce red tape and make Indian industries more competitive," the Vice President recalled.
PV Narasimha Rao was born on June 28, 1921 in Telangana (then Nizam's Hyderabad state) and died on December 23, 2004 in New Delhi. The former Prime Minister, part of the Congress party, had laid the foundation for trade liberalisation and the re-integration of the Indian economy with the global economy.
The Telangana government under the leadership of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has said the state will observe year-long centenary celebrations of PV Narasimha Rao beginning today. The government has urged Telugu associations across 51 countries to celebrate "on a grand scale".
Telangana IT Minister KT Rama Rao said the state government "will pitch for conferring Bharat Ratna to PV Narasimha Rao."
The Congress also took to Twitter to honour PV Narasimha Rao and called him "a visionary leader who oversaw major economic transformations of the Indian economy."
The official Twitter handle of Telangana Chief Minister's Office posted various videos remembering the former prime minister today.
The women's wing of the Congress also took to Twitter to pay tributes to the leader. "We pay homage to Former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao on his birth anniversary today. This year, the nation is observing his birth centenary year. His tremendous contribution towards economic transformation of India shall always be cherished."