New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi, former party chief Rahul Gandhi and scores of Congress party leaders on Thursday greeted former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his 87th birthday.
"Best wishes to our former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji on his birthday. I pray for his long and healthy life," Prime Minister Modi tweeted. The Prime Minister is on a week long visit to the US.
In a statement, Sonia Gandhi recalled Manmohan Singh's contribution to nation building, inclusive growth and economic resurgence and said that the present Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government needs to learn from him.
"His sagacious leadership ensured that India took a determined leap forward, even during trying times. Present day rulers across the spectrum have much to learn from his innate wisdom," she said.
Sonia Gandhi wished Manmohan Singh a happy and healthy life and many more years in the service of the nation.
Rahul Gandhi also took to Twitter and wrote, "On his birthday, let us acknowledge Manmohan Singhji's selfless service, dedication and incredible contribution to the cause of nation building."
Former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram, who is currently lodged in Tihar jail since September 5 in the INX media case, asked the BJP government to listen to the wisdom of Manmohan Singh. "I have asked my family to tweet on my behalf the following: Happy birthday to Dr Manmohan Singh. May he live for a 100 years and more!," Chidambaram said in a series of tweets.
"I urge the Government to listen to the wisdom of Manmohan Singh. If anyone can show the way for the country to come out of the current economic slump, it is Manmohan Singh," Chidambaram said.
Slamming the Narendra Modi-led government over the economic slowdown, Chidambaram said: "The fundamental error of the government's approach is that it has not understood the main causative factor of the economic slowdown -- it is lack of demand and a growing pessimism about jobs, wages and opportunities."
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala also took to Twitter to wish the former Prime Minister on his birthday and said: "Best wishes to Manmohan Singh on his birthday. He has led the country efficiently for 10 years. May God give you a healthy, happy and long life so that your wisdom and knowledge continues to benefit the country and the world for a long time."
The Congress party released a short audio-visual clip on the occasion listing the achievements of the party leader.
"As we celebrate former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, we look back at some of his greatest achievements. He has served our country for several decades and continues to do so with his renowned intelligence, humility and dedication," the Congress tweeted from its official Twitter handle attaching an audio-visual clip listing his achievements.
The clip described Singh as a "visionary economist" and tracked his life from his childhood in Punjab, where it claimed that he had studied "under kerosene lamps". It credited him with the liberalisation of the economy in 1991 as well as the launch of Chandrayan 1 in 2008.
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