Cabinet mourns demise of PV Narasimha Rao
In an emergency meeting, the Union Cabinet deeply mourned the demise of former Prime Minister, Shri PV Narasimha Rao, here today. The Cabinet also passed a resolution to this effect.
The following is the text of the resolution:
“The Cabinet has learnt, with profound sorrow, about the death of Shri PV Narasimha Rao, former Prime Minister of India on December 23, 2004.
Born to Smt. and Shri P. Ranga Rao on June 28, 1921 in Karim Nagar, Andhra Pradesh, Shri PV Narasimha Rao was educated at Hyderabad, Pune and Nagpur. His political baptism began in 1938 during a protest against the Nizam Government’s ban on singing of Vande Mataram in his college. Shri Rao actively participated in the Quit India Movement. He was elected to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1957 from Manthani constituency which he represented for the next 20 years. He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1977. Subsequently, he became Minister for External Affairs, Home, Defence and Human Resource Development. After Shri Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination in May 1991, Shri Rao became Prime Minister. He was President of the Indian National Congress from 1991 to 1996.
Shri PV Narasimha Rao will be remembered for his dedicated service to the Nation and for the leadership and guidance he provided as the Prime Minister in the economic reforms and liberalization. Throughout his long public life, he constantly strove for the betterment of the common man.
Shri PV Narasimha Rao was a statesman, scholar and linguist. A man of many interests, Shri Rao leaves his imprint in various areas of our national life. His sensitivity and love for music and the arts, marked him as an exceptional human being. Possessed of an ideal political temperament, Shri Rao’s wisdom and detachment impressed one and all. He had special interest in Indian philosophy and culture, writing fiction and political commentary, learning languages, writing poetry in Telugu and Hindi, and keeping abreast of literature in general. He lectured at various Universities in the USA and Germany. He was a sophisticated, suave, scholarly and visionary leader.
The Cabinet deeply mourns the sad demise of Shri Rao, and extends sincere condolences on behalf of the entire nation to the bereaved family.”
(Release ID :6000)