7 day National Mourning declared as former PM Dr Manmohan Singh dies

As India lost former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Thursday, all government programmes scheduled for Friday were cancelled and a national mourning of seven days was declared as a mark of respect to the passing of the statesman. Dr Singh was 92 years old.

Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet was scheduled to meet at 11 am on Friday, when Dr Manmohan Singh’s last rites are expected to be conducted with full state honours. 

The main Opposition, the Indain National Congress party announced that all its party programmes, including its foundation day celebrations, would be cancelled for the next seven days as a mark of respect for the former prime minister.

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Widely known as the architect of India's economic reforms, Dr Singh passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital on Thursday night. 

The National Flag will be flown at half-mast on the days of mourning across the country on all buildings where it is flown regularly.

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There will be no official entertainment on the days during the seven-day period.

Dr Singh served as the country's Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014.

He is widely known for his transformative role in steering the country's economy through a period of significant liberalisation.

ALSO READ: Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, architect of India's pivotal economic reforms, dies at 92

Dr Singh shot to prominence as the country's Finance Minister in the government headed by PV Narasimha Rao during 1991-96, having introduced sweeping reforms that transformed the economy.