When Manmohan Singh shared story behind becoming ‘accidental finance minister’: ‘Didn't take him very seriously’

Manmohan Singh once said, “People say I was the accidental Prime Minister, but I was also the accidental finance minister.” It was a time when critics called him the “accidental prime minister” and the "silent prime minister.

He also narrated the story of how he became the “accidental finance minister”.

“Narasimha Rao ji was searching for me, and he traced me to the UGC, and he said, 'Where are you?'. I said I am in the UGC. He said hasn't Alexander mentioned to you what we have for you. I said I didn't take him very seriously, and Narsimha ji said no, you go dressed up and come for the swearing-in ceremony. So that's how I became the finance minister,” Manmohan Singh had said.

“People say I was the accidental Prime Minister, but I was also the accidental finance minister,” he said as the audience applauded and cheered.

Manmohan Singh was India's Finance Minister in 1991 in PV Narasimha Rao's government. He is credited for the 1991 economic liberalisation in the country.

At the launch of his book ‘Changing India in 2018, Manmohan Singh defended the “silent prime minister” tag, saying, “People say I was a silent prime minister, but I think these volumes [his book 'Changing India'] speak for themselves.”

“I was not the prime minister who was afraid of talking to the press. I met the press regularly. In every foreign tour, I had press conferences in the plane or after landing,” the former PM had said.

Manmohan Singh passed away at AIIMS in Delhi on Thursday evening at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions. He had a sudden loss of consciousness at home, after which he was rushed to the AIIMS Delhi.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's body was displayed at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi for public viewing. His last rites are scheduled for Saturday, according to Congress sources.