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Morning update: Jaishankar on “fairness” in India’s elections, the Congress releasing its poll manifesto today, and other news

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On Friday, April 5, the Congress will unveil its platform for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, emphasizing the “Paanch Nyay,” or “five pillars of justice.” The manifesto is expected to be released by prominent Congressmen, such as Mallikarjun Kharge, the party’s chief, and past presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated on Thursday that there “should not be any worry” about the “fairness” of elections in India because citizens will make sure that the votes are “free and fair.” In answer to a question about a statement made last week by Stephane Dujarric, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ spokeswoman, Jaishankar made his comment.

India News: Women, youth, farmers, and the impoverished are expected to be key topics in the BJP platform.

Mann was given permission to meet Kejriwal in “mulakat jangla” as a regular visitor. Examine more closely

Worldwide Concerns
US Army Corps of Engineers hopes to open Fort McHenry Channel by the end of May in response to the Baltimore tragedy.

“Safety fears” and “Kate” may prevent Meghan Markle and Harry from ever visiting the UK.

Athletic Events
Thanks in large part to the valor of their uncapped Indian player, Shashank Singh, Punjab Kings defeated the Gujarat Titans in a thrilling finale in the 2024 Indian Premier League on Thursday. Shashank produced an incredible display at the bat, going undefeated on 61 off just 29 deliveries as the Kings secured a much-needed victory in Ahmedabad while chasing a difficult 200-run score.

Focus on Entertainment
Four months have passed since Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Rashmika Mandanna and Ranbir Kapoor flick Animal debuted, but people are still talking about it. In an interview with Neha Dhupia for the No Filter Neha vodcast, she defended the movie against criticism.

Way of Life and Health
As the fashion industry struggles with the effects of rapid fashion on the environment, designers and customers alike are shifting their attention to more sustainable options. One such creative, environmentally friendly technique that is becoming popular is upcycling. The fashion industry is adopting this strategy more and more, particularly among up-and-coming designers who are looking for more environmentally friendly methods.

Current Events
On social media, a video showing nurses shielding newborns from the tremor that rocked Taiwan is becoming more popular. In the video, medical personnel can be seen scrambling to keep the cribs from rolling away during the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the nation.

Inputs from Hindustan times News!

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2-Year-Old Rescued From 16-Feet Deep Borewell In Karnataka After 20 Hours

2 year old boy rescued from borewell. An Indian boy, fell into a borewell and had to be saved after 20 hours of work. Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m., the child fell into a 16-foot-deep borewell in Lachayan town. The search for the child began.
Police say the child fell into the borewell when he played outside near his home. The boy may have hit his head when he fell. The family found out about what was going on when someone heard the child cry and told them right away.

2 year old boy rescued from borewell

In order to get the 2 year old boy rescued from borewell, the police dug a hole parallel to the borewell that was about 21 feet deep.

In that place are people from the taluk panchayat, the police, the Fire and Emergency Services, and the government. The police said Minister M.B. Patil was in charge of the rescue.

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An officer group lead by Superintendent of Police Rishikesh Sonawane is at the scene. They are working hard to dig a hole next to the borehole so they can get the boy out before he goes any deeper.

Something small has been set down so the police can keep an eye on the boy. Police say they can see the boy outside moving his hands and legs on a screen. The boy now has a pipe that brings air to him.

There is an ambulance and a group of doctors waiting. The child will be taken to the hospital right away to be stable and get more care.

The boy’s father, Satish Mujagonda, said that the family is shocked and hopes the boy will be saved.

Click here to read: No Muslim League flag in Rahul Gandhi rally, Congress bashed from Left and Right

This Article is originally Published by NDTV

No Muslim League flag in Rahul Gandhi rally, Congress bashed from Left and Right

After a massive controversy in 2019, Muslim League flags were missing from Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Wayanad. Now, both the CPI(M) and the BJP raised the issue of the missing IUML flags to target the Congress.

Flag politics, which had gripped the nation during the 2019 Lok Sabha election, has returned in Wayanad.

The Congress is being attacked by both, the left and the right for the absence of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) flags at Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Wayanad on Wednesday.

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The IUML is one of the major partners in the Congress-led UDF in Kerala.

The flags of the Congress and its associate, the Indian Union of Maharashtra, were absent from Rahul Gandhi’s roadshow in Wayanad after his nomination. The Congress flags were as well.

Click Here To Read: Rahul Gandhi (Indian Politician) Biography

The Congress found itself in a situation where it was unable to fly the IUML flag in light of the events of 2019. Congress flags were missing from the roadshow as well because their absence would be noticeable.

Rather, the Wednesday roadshow in the hill district was dominated by balloons of the same colors, the Tricolour, and a few Indian national flags.

Rahul Gandhi rally

LEFT SAYS, CONGRESS LACKS COURAGE Criticised the Congress over missing Muslim League flags at Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Wayanad, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said it “lacked the courage” to publicly display the party’s flag.

“The Congress has fallen to a level where it is afraid of communal forces,” Vijayan claimed at a press conference. Congress’s stand on the flag issue shows that it wants the votes of the IUML but would not acknowledge their flag, according to Kerala CM Vijayan.

This article is originally published by India today!

Renuka Jagtiani is one of the 25 new billionaires in India. Everything about the Landmark Group chairman!

Renuka Jagtiani, Whose net worth is $4.8 billion, was included in Forbes’ list of New Billionaires for 2024. The chairman of the enormous retail chain Landmark Group is Jagtiani.

The country of India had a notable upswing in its economy as 25 new billionaires entered the global elite of the wealthiest people. Renuka Jagtiani, the chairwoman of Landmark Group, is one of these newcomers, boasting an impressive net worth of $4.8 billion.

There are 2,781 billionaires in the globe according to Forbes’ New Billionaires 2024 survey, with Jagtiani ranking 44th in India and 660th overall.

Also Read: BJP Wants Resignation Of Kejriwal To Stop Free Water And Electricity: AAP MP Sanjay Singh

Who is Renuka Jagtiani

Based in Dubai, Landmark Group is a massive retail company, and Jagtiani, 70, is in charge of it. Micky Jagtiani, her late husband, started the business in 1973. Landmark expanded its operations over 24 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent while she was in charge.

Jagtiani, who has over twenty years of expertise leading the company’s corporate strategy and market expansion, is in charge of over fifty thousand workers.

Under her leadership, Landmark Group expanded its holdings to encompass more than 25 in-house brands in the retail, hospitality, food, and leisure industries.

Jagtiani’s commercial career started in 1999 when Landmark’s Indian division was founded. Since then, the company has expanded to include 900 locations in five verticals, including Lifestyle, Home Center, and Max.

Also Read: Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh leaves “directionless” party ahead of Lok Sabha elections.

Acknowledged for her prowess in entrepreneurship, Jagtiani has won multiple accolades, such as the World Entrepreneurship Forum’s 2014 Entrepreneur of the World Year and the Outstanding Asian Business Woman of the Year award in 2007.

She has accomplished more than just business success, though. She was rated 96th on Forbes’ 2021 list of the most influential women in the world, demonstrating the recognition of her influence. She was removed from the list in 2022, though.

With a $35.5 billion net worth, Savitri Jindal is another powerful individual among her peers and a prime example of the increasing impact of women in India’s corporate sector.

Parallel to this, 265 new billionaires have entered Forbes’ list as a result of the global wealth boom in the most recent fiscal year.

Gourav Vallabh joins BJP, hours after quitting Congress

Just to the crucial Lok Sabha elections, Gourav Vallabh, the national spokesperson for the Congress, abruptly quit the party on Thursday and joined the BJP, dealing a severe blow to the party.

In summary, Gourav Vallabh, a Congress spokesperson, joins the BJP before the Lok Sabha elections.
Congress party, according to Gourav Vallabh, is “directionless”
He submitted his resignation to Mallikarjun Kharge, the head of the Congress.
Gourav Vallabh, the national spokesperson for the Congress, left the party on Thursday and joined the BJP, branding it “directionless”.

Anil Sharma, the former president of the Bihar Congress, also joined the BJP in Delhi while Vinod Tawde, the party’s national general secretary, was there.

Gourav Vallabh said in his post-BJP media conference, “I posted a letter in the morning on numerous social media channels…I expressed all of my heartaches in that letter.I have always believed that the temple of Lord Shri Ram should be constructed at Ayodhya. Congress received an invitation.

Valabh stated that a person cannot “neither raise anti-Sanatana slogans nor abuse the wealth creators of the country

I have been born in a Hindu family and work as a teacher. I have always found the party’s position to be bothersome and irritating. “A lot of people connected to the party and the (INDIA) alliance criticize Sanatan Dharma, and the party’s lack of response is akin to endorsing it implicitly,” stated Vallabh.

Also Read: BJP Wants Resignation Of Kejriwal To Stop Free Water And Electricity: AAP MP Sanjay Singh

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This article is originally published by ANI News!

BJP Wants Resignation Of Kejriwal To Stop Free Water And Electricity: AAP MP Sanjay Singh

NEW DELHI: AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh attacked the BJP in a speech shortly after being freed from Tihar jail on Wednesday. He demanded that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal resignation in order for the party to stop offering free electricity, water, and Mohalla clinics in the capital.

Singh then asked the BJP whether the prime minister would help with the probe in exchange for a visit by police from Tamil Nadu, Bengal, and Punjab, the three states ruled by the opposition. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court granted Singh bail in relation to the purported excise policy scheme.

Speaking about his remarks, he said that AAP leaders Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Satyendar Jain were imprisoned because they advocated for free public transportation, first-rate healthcare, first-rate education, and a year’s salary for women in Delhi.

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Singh claims that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is a family.

Shortly after his release from Tihar jail, the Rajya Sabha MP said that he saw tears in Delhi Chief Minister Sunita Kejriwal’s eyes during their encounter.

Singh said he will get to know the Jain and Sisodia families.

He reassured them that Kejriwal would provide them with happiness, quality healthcare, and education, but he also cautioned them against falling for “dictators” who would harm them.

“Hey, if the state president hears me, the AAP is a movement born out of a movement.” The AAP headquarters was filled with jubilant party members and employees when Singh said, “We will not be intimidated by your threats.”

He went on to say, “The two crore people of Delhi will answer the BJP for these tears.” “I saw tears in Arvind Kejriwal’s wife’s eyes for the first time.”

“You put Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Satyendar Jain in jail. He asked if it was their duty to provide free bus passes, free medical care and education, and free tours to elderly pilgrims.

Singh conveyed his appreciation to AAP leaders and activists for defying the BJP’s “dictatorship”.

He said that the BJP also wanted additional AAP leaders such ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj, MP Raghav Chadha of the Rajya Sabha, and MLA Durgesh Pathak to be arrested.

“I spent time in jail… (Prime Minister Narendra) ‘Modi ji kaan khol kar suno (listen carefully)’, every leader and volunteer of the AAP stands firmly with Chief Minister Kejriwal,” he said.

Singh said that the BJP represented the “Bangaru Janta Party”.

Kejriwal Resignation

He was making a reference to Bangaru Laxman, the former BJP national leader who was convicted of corruption.

According to Singh, the BJP’s top positions were occupied by the “biggest corrupt” individuals.

He said that instead of Kejriwal resignation as Delhi Chief Minister would stay on to serve the two crore citizens of the city.

Click Here To Read Arvind Kejriwal (Chief Minister of Delhi) Biography

“The BJP is asking Kejriwal Resignation . According to Singh, “They are not calling for Kejriwal to step down; instead, they are questioning why he continues to provide free water, electricity, and bus rides for women as well as Mohalla Clinics.”

He said that Tejriwal’s “imprisonment” in the Lok Sabha elections will be met with protests from the populace and that the party would strive even harder.

Kejriwal is being held in judicial detention till April 15 after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last month in relation to a money laundering case concerning his government’s since-canceled excise policy.

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This Article is Originally published BY PTINEWS

Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh leaves “directionless” party ahead of Lok Sabha elections.

Gourav Vallabh mentioned the party’s pledge to conduct a caste census, his choice to forego the Ram Mandir event, and other factors in his resignation letter.

Congress spokesperson Professor Gourav Vallabh resigned from the party’s primary membership on Thursday. Vallabh represented the party in TV debates on matters pertaining to finance and the economy.

In a letter to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Vallabh referred to the traditional party as “directionless” and gave reasons for his decision to step down, including the caste census. He also stated that he could not make “anti-Sanatana” statements.

“Considering how aimless the party has become these days, I feel uneasy. I cannot denigrate the country’s wealth creators and shout “anti-Sanatana” chants. I am leaving my primary membership in the party as well as all of my posts as a result,” he wrote in his resignation letter.

“I joined the Congress with the intention of using my financial knowledge for the welfare of the country,” he continued. Yes, we are not in power at the moment, but there was a better method we could have introduced our programs and agenda. But this was carried out at all party levels.

Vallabh, who ran for the Congress in the Jharkhand assembly elections in 2019 and the Rajasthan assembly elections last year, added that there was a perception that the party exclusively supported one “particular religion.”

“We’re heading in the incorrect way. We talk against the caste census on the one hand, but it seems like we are against Hindu civilization altogether on the other. This gives the false impression that we have a prejudice against a particular community. Additionally, this goes against fundamental Congress ideals,” said the PhD-holding chartered accountant.

Additionally, Vallabh claimed that the party has not been able to “realize” the expectations of “New India” over the last few years.

We no longer have a ground-level connection, so we are unaware of what ‘New India’ anticipates from us. As a result, we have consistently failed to seize power or establish ourselves as a formidable opposition. Like me, this demotivates employees. If a worker cannot speak with his leader directly, no constructive change can occur,” he stated. He added that he was “shocked” and “upset” by the leadership’s choice to forego the Ram Temple event.

Also Read : “Karnataka will not see a Modi wave,” said Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

Expelled from Congress, Sanjay Nirupam is expected to join the Sena group commanded by Shinde!

Sanjay Nirupam was taken off the Maharashtra Congress’ roster of celebrity candidates for the Lok Sabha elections earlier in the day, and the party proposed that he face disciplinary punishment.

Days after giving the party a “one-week deadline” over the Mumbai North-West seat, the Congress on Wednesday banned Sanjay Nirupam, its former chief of the Mumbai unit, for six years. According to people close to Nirupam, he will be joining the Shiv Sena, which is headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Nirupam is being expelled with “immediate effect,” the Congress announced in a late-night statement, citing “complaints of indiscipline and anti-party statements.”

Nirupam was taken off the Maharashtra Congress’ roster of celebrity candidates for the Lok Sabha elections earlier in the day, and the party suggested that he face disciplinary punishment.

“Nirupam won’t receive a show cause notice. Direct action will be taken against him, according to Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole.

Nirupam responded to this by saying, “Congress should not waste its time and resources on me. In any case, the party needs to put its energies into saving itself because it is in dire need of money. I’ve extended the one-week deadline and will make my announcement tomorrow, Thursday.

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Sanjay Nirupam

Nirupam intended to run from Mumbai North-West, but Amol Kirtikar was named the winner by the Shiv Sena, which is led by Congress ally Uddhav Thackeray.

The candidate for the seat has not yet been announced by the BJP-Shinde Sena combine.”The (Congress) leadership does not care about local leaders,” Nirupam had stated following the Sena (UBT) announcement of its nominee. In the past two weeks, no one has spoken to me, asked if there is another option, or inquired as to why I would like to challenge this. The Congress leadership is not looking into the injustice done to its party employees at a time when it is talking about spreading nyay (justice) to various segments of society. I would like to inform the leadership that I will hold off for a week. I have all the alternatives available to me. Nirupam ran for office from Mumbai North-West in 2019, however, he was defeated by Shinde Sena candidate Gajanan Kirtikar. In 2005, Nirupam—who had previously been a member of the Shiv Sena—joined the Congress.

“Karnataka will not see a Modi wave,” said Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

DK Shivakumar, the deputy chief minister of Karnataka, asserted that the BJP broke all of its pledges and accomplished nothing in the state during its four years in power.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President D K Shivakumar stated his party is in a comfortable position because there isn’t a “Modi wave” in the state on Wednesday, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. He asserted that the BJP broke all of its pledges and accomplished nothing in the state during its four years in power.

“With regard to Karnataka, Congress is in a very comfortable position. In an exclusive interview with PTI, Shivakumar stated, “There is no Modi wave in Karnataka because Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not left any footprint in Karnataka during the last 10 years of his rule.”

He stated that even with the catastrophic drought that 230 out of 236 taluks were experiencing, the Union government had taken crores of rupees in taxes from Karnataka, but the state had received nothing in return. Shivakumar asserted that Congress will win with a margin of victory over two lakh votes in the Bengaluru Rural constituency, where the BJP is fielding renowned cardiologist Dr. C N Manjunath against his brother and three-time MP D K Suresh.

Shivakumar declared that the public would reject the BJP-JD(S) coalition, calling it a failure in their election collaboration in Karnataka. “(H D) Kumaraswamy (JD(S) leader and NDA’s Mandya candidate) and all the JDS candidates will lose,” he stated.

Shivakumar responded to reports that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had accused him of corruption by saying they were political accusations. “They have not been able to provide any evidence against me. “These are unfounded accusations made against me,” Shivakumar continued.

Declaring that the Congress party as a whole is unified, Shivakumar refuted any disagreement within the party on the distribution of tickets for the Lok Sabha elections. “There is no disagreement, and we will resolve the issue in a day. However, the BJP is on fire from within. The BJP will be killed by its own workers. He said, “The BJP has switched (candidates) in about ten seats and they are aware that they are losing the polls.

Also Read : Rajya Sabha chairperson Kharge writes an emotional letter in honor of former prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Details are available here!

Rajya Sabha chairperson Kharge writes an emotional letter in honor of former prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Details are available here!

Former Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh on Wednesday will retire from the Rajya Sabha, putting an end to his three-decade-long parliamentary innings in the Upper House.

The development is just as former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi is set to mark her debut in the Rajya Sabha. Sonia Gandhi will enter the Upper House of Parliament from Rajasthan filling the seat left vacant by Dr Singh.

On this occasion, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge penned an emotional letter to the former Prime Minister of India. In his letter, Kharge said that an era came to an end with Singh’s retirement.

He also said that Manmohan Singh will remain a “hero” to the middle class and aspirational youth. He also hailed the former Prime Minister as a “leader and guide to the industrialists and entrepreneurs, and a benefactor to all those poor who were able to climb out of poverty due to your economic policies.”

Kharge also claimed that the foundation of the “little reforms done by the current government” lies the work initiated by the UPA government. He listed out initiatives like creating zero-balance bank accounts, Aadhaar cards, and deregulation of petrol and diesel prices. 

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Full text of Mallikarjun Kharge’s letter to Manmohan Singh

An era ends today as you retire from the Rajya Sabha, having served for almost thirty years. There are very few who can claim to have served our country with greater devotion and dedication than you. You have done more for this country and its citizens than most others have.

Being a member of your cabinet has been an honor for me. You have been an inspiration to me and someone I have respected for guidance over the past ten years as the head of the Congress Party in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Despite personal inconveniences, you have made it a point to be available for the Congress party during the past few years. The party and I will always be appreciative of this.

You have shown that economic policies can be adopted that benefit big industry, young people starting their firms, small businesses, the salaried class, and the impoverished equally. You were the one who demonstrated that even the impoverished can contribute to the development of their country and escape poverty. During your tenure as Prime Minister, India managed to bring 27 crore people out of poverty, the largest number of impoverished people in the world. This was made possible by your policies.

During difficult times, rural workers continue to receive assistance from the MGNREGA program, which was started under your administration. Through this program, you have made sure that the country, and especially the rural poor, may live with dignity and earn a living. For this, they will always be grateful.

The patriotic legacy of the Congress party and its spirit of sacrifice was ably demonstrated by you when you decided to pursue the Indo-US Nuclear Deal even if it meant putting your government at risk for the sake of the nation’s security. This was a historic moment when you led India to take her rightful place in the world and you showed your strength as an uncompromising negotiator.

The respect and regard that the Presidents of the United States and other world leaders had for you made this possible. Their respect for you further increased during the Global Financial Crisis. I remember President Obama mentioning to you that “Whenever the Indian Prime Minister speaks, the whole world listens to him.” These are only a few instances that I am mentioning out of your many contributions to the nation.

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We live in times that are largely shaped by you. The economic prosperity and stability that we enjoy today are built on the foundations laid by you along with our former Prime Minister, Bharat Ratna, Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao. The current set of leaders who have reaped the benefits of your work are reluctant to credit you due to political biases.

They seem to go out of their way to speak ill about you and make personal attacks against you. However, we also know that you are large-hearted enough not to hold that against anyone. 

Whatever little reforms done by the current government have their seeds in the work initiated by the UPA government headed by you. The work initiated by your government to ensure the direct transfer of benefits to individual beneficiaries by creating zero balance accounts, and unique identification of the beneficiary through Aadhaar was hijacked by the succeeding government without giving you credit.

In some cases, the good work initiated by you seems to be slowly undone. The difficult work of deregulation of petrol and diesel prices done by you seems to have been completely undone by the current government. The current government is levying high taxes on the common man, while oil companies are enjoying the benefits of low oil prices. Yet another area where the government has regressed is the increasing economic inequality and a growing number of people who are forced to seek subsistence from the government.

The nation misses the quiet yet strong dignity that you brought to the office of the Prime Minister. The Parliament will now miss your wisdom and experience. Your dignified, measured, soft-spoken yet statesman-like words are in contrast to the loud voices filled with lies that signify the current politics. The current political situation is such that unscrupulousness is being equated with astute leadership.

I still recall your speech on demonetization which you termed a “monumental management failure” and “an organized loot and legalized plunder”, which has proved to be a grim reality. You showed it is possible to criticize without getting personal. The nation and the people will soon see through the lies of the current government. Just like how the sun and the moon can never be hidden, the truth can also never be hidden. People will realize the importance of your words soon.

You will always remain a hero to the middle class and the aspirational youth, a leader and guide to the industrialists and entrepreneurs, and a benefactor to all those poor who were able to climb out of poverty due to your economic policies.

Even as you retire from active politics, I hope that you will continue to be the voice of wisdom and moral compass to the nation by speaking to the citizens of our country as often as possible. I wish you peace, health, and happiness.

Manmohan Singh’s Rajya Sabha debut

Manmohan Singh, who is known for bringing the landmark 1991 economic reforms of liberalization, privatization, and globalization with former PM Bharat Ratna PV Narasimha Rao, joined the Rajya Sabha for the first time in October 1991. Singh was the finance minister in the Narasimha Rao government from 1991-96 and the Prime Minister of India from 2004-14.