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Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Kerala
By Our Special Correspondent
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, DEC. 23. Kerala will observe seven days' mourning as a mark of respect to the memory of the former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. The national flag will fly half-mast on these day. Although official functions could be organised, official celebrations will not be held during these days. The Governor, R.L. Bhatia, and the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, headed the list of leaders who paid glowing tributes to Rao. The Governor said that it was during his Prime Ministership that the country braced itself to face the challenges of globalisation. The scholarly and able Prime Minister had ushered in major economic reforms. His contributions to the progress of the country would always be remembered. Mr. Chandy described Rao as a man of action who had played a major role in making the country an economic power. Rao who had assumed charge during the abysmal crises that followed the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi was able to outlive them within a short period and led the country along the firm path of development. He proved his administrative skills and turned out to be one of the greatest leaders of the country. The former Chief Minister K. Karunakaran recalled the role played by him in the elevation of Rao as the Prime Minister and said that he had been able to maintain close relationship and interaction on many major issues with the departed leader. Although the economic reforms were not implemented in a proper manner, he had been able to lead the country to economic progress.
A refined leader
The former Chief Minister A.K. Antony described Rao as one of the highly cultured leaders of national politics with whom he had been able to work intimately. He had been maintaining close personal relationship with Rao ever since he was deputed by Indira Gandhi to settle the dispute in the PCC. He took over the reins of the country when its economy was a shambles. It was Rao and the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, who were behind the economic revolution that took place in the country. The economic liberalisation ushered in during his tenure was in spite of its drawbacks responsible for the strengthening of the economic foundation of the country and the progressive changes which followed. He remembered with warmth the experience of having functioned as a member of the Ministry headed by Rao who was one of the leaders most loved and respected by him. He used to call on Rao and hold talks with him whenever he visited Delhi even after the end of his tenure as Prime Minister. He would always be remembered for the services rendered by him for the economic surge of the country and for the party in his capacity as its president.
Worth emulating
The KPCC president, Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, said that Rao's services as an able Prime Minister and strong party president would always be remembered. His leadership qualities and dynamism were worth emulating. The Speaker, Therambil Ramakrishnan, described Rao as a farsighted leader who had imparted new dynamism and a sense of direction to the economy of the country. The UDF convener and former Speaker, P.P. Thankachan, hailed the role played by Rao in making the decentralisation process a reality by pushing through the constitutional amendments and in nursing the economy of the country back to health by implementing the new economic policy shorn of the ills of globalisation.
Leader with vision
The Revenue Minister, K.M. Mani, characterised Rao as a leader with vision and sense of direction who had led the country to progress in the economic and social sectors. He had left his imprint not only in the field of politics but also in the field of literature. His period as the Prime Minister would be considered as an important period in the history of the country. The Kerala Congress (B) leader and former Minister, R. Balakrishna Pillai expressed profound grief at Rao's demise. The KPCC general secretary, Mullappally Ramachandran, described Rao as an able leader who had stood strongly with the party unfazed by crises. Mr. Ramachandran had the opportunity as an MP to watch the role played by Rao as External Affairs, Defence and Human Resources Development Ministers. Mr. Ramachandran said he had also functioned as Minister of State under Rao. Rao was a strong Prime Minister and able party leader.
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