Editing Manmohan Singh (section)

== Public image and legacy ==
''[[The Independent]]'' described Singh as "one of the world's most revered leaders" and "a man of uncommon decency and grace", noting that he drives a [[Maruti 800]], one of the humblest cars in the Indian market. [[Khushwant Singh]] lauded Singh as the best prime minister India has had, even rating him higher than [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]. He mentions an incident in his book ''Absolute Khushwant: The Low-Down on Life, Death and Most things In-between'' where after losing the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, Singh immediately returned the {{INRConvert|2|l}} he had borrowed from the writer for hiring taxis. Terming him as the best example of integrity, Khushwant Singh stated, "When people talk of integrity, I say the best example is the man who occupies the country's highest office."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PM-Manmohan-Singh-is-the-best-example-of-integrity-Khushwant-Singh/articleshow/6325672.cms |title=PM Manmohan Singh: PM Manmohan Singh is the best example of integrity: Khushwant Singh |work=The Times of India |date=17 August 2010 |access-date=19 December 2019 |archive-date=11 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611102937/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PM-Manmohan-Singh-is-the-best-example-of-integrity-Khushwant-Singh/articleshow/6325672.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2010, [[Newsweek|''Newsweek'' magazine]] recognised him as a world leader who is respected by other heads of state, describing him as "the leader other leaders love." The article quoted [[Mohamed ElBaradei]], who remarked that Singh is "the model of what a political leader should be."<ref>{{cite web |author=Christopher Dickey |url=http://www.newsweek.com/content/newsweek/2010/08/16/go-to-the-head-of-the-class.html |title=Go to the Head of the Class |work=Newsweek |date=16 August 2010 |access-date=15 February 2011 |archive-date=29 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429213828/http://www.newsweek.com/content/newsweek/2010/08/16/go-to-the-head-of-the-class.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Singh also received the World Statesman Award in 2010. [[Henry Kissinger]] described Singh as "a statesman with vision, persistence and integrity", and praised him for his "leadership, which has been instrumental in the economic transformation underway in India."<ref name=worldstatesmanaward>{{cite news |title=Manmohan Singh honoured with 2010 World Statesman Award |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/Americas/Manmohan-Singh-honoured-with-2010-World-Statesman-Award/Article1-603591.aspx |newspaper=Hindustan Times |agency=PTI |date=23 September 2010 |access-date=27 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509014458/http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/Americas/Manmohan-Singh-honoured-with-2010-World-Statesman-Award/Article1-603591.aspx |archive-date=9 May 2013 }}</ref>

Singh was ranked 18 on the 2010 [[Forbes list of the World's Most Powerful People]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/manmohan-singh | work=Forbes | title=The World's Most Powerful People: Manmohan Singh | date=3 November 2010 | access-date=4 September 2017 | archive-date=16 September 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916231114/https://www.forbes.com/profile/manmohan-singh/ | url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine described Singh as being "universally praised as India's best prime minister since Nehru".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/sonia-gandhi | work=Forbes | title=The World's Most Powerful People: Sonia Gandhi | date=3 November 2010 | access-date=4 September 2017 | archive-date=6 November 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106203529/http://www.forbes.com/profile/sonia-gandhi | url-status=live }}</ref> Australian journalist [[Greg Sheridan]] praised Singh "as one of the greatest statesmen in Asian history."<ref name="TA">{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25513283-7583,00.html|title=Strengthen Team India|work=The Australian|date=21 May 2009|access-date=17 March 2011|archive-date=23 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523170731/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25513283-7583,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Singh was later ranked 19 and 28 in 2012 and 2013 in the Forbes list.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/manmohan-singh/|title=Manmohan Singh|website=[[Forbes]]|access-date=16 November 2016|archive-date=7 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207155347/https://www.forbes.com/profile/manmohan-singh/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.reuters.com/india/2013/10/31/sonia-gandhi-manmohan-singh-slip-in-forbes-most-powerful-list/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103061614/http://blogs.reuters.com/india/2013/10/31/sonia-gandhi-manmohan-singh-slip-in-forbes-most-powerful-list/|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 November 2013|title=Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh slip in Forbes' most powerful list|first=Tony|last=Tharakan|access-date=16 November 2016|date=31 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/photos/news/these-are-the-worlds-most-powerful-people-14299#photo-185869|title=These are the world's most powerful people, Photo Gallery|access-date=16 November 2016|archive-date=3 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203193229/http://www.ndtv.com/photos/news/these-are-the-worlds-most-powerful-people-14299#photo-185869|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]] described Singh as "guiding India into the ranks of the great powers".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Singh |first=Manmohan |date=29 April 2010 |title=The 2010 TIME 100 |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984864_1984890,00.html |magazine=Time (Magazine) |access-date=6 October 2024 |archive-date=7 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007100216/https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984864_1984890,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Conversely, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine's Asia edition for 10–17 July 2012, on its cover remarked that Singh was an "underachiever".<ref>{{cite news| url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-08/india/32588303_1_growth-path-magazine-scandals| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130512022340/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-08/india/32588303_1_growth-path-magazine-scandals| url-status= dead| archive-date= 12 May 2013| work= [[The Times of India]]| title= Time magazine dubs Manmohan Singh as 'underachiever'.
| date=8 July 2012 }}</ref> It stated that Singh appears "unwilling to stick his neck out" on reforms that will put the country back onto a growth path. Congress spokesperson [[Manish Tewari]] rebutted the charges. UPA ally [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]] took issue with the magazine's statements. Praising the government, Prasad said UPA projects [were] doing well and asked, "What will America say as their own economy is shattered?".<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cong-counters-time-magazines-underachiever-remark-against-pm/971792/| title= Cong counters Time magazine's 'underachiever' remark against PM| date= 8 July 2012| access-date= 8 July 2012| archive-date= 11 June 2024| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240611102956/https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/cong-counters-time-magazines-underachiever-remark-against-pm/| url-status= live}}</ref> Additionally, Singh faced negative reception following the [[2008 Mumbai attacks]] for falling short on enhancing national security.<ref name="Demarche_to_Pakistan">{{cite news |author=[[Press Trust of India]] |title=No military action against Pakistan: India |work=Times of India |location=India |date=2 December 2008 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/No_military_action_against_Pakistan_India/articleshow/3783853.cms |accessdate=9 December 2008 |archive-date=5 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205122918/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/No_military_action_against_Pakistan_India/articleshow/3783853.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

In his 2020 memoir ''[[A Promised Land]]'', former U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] called Singh "Wise, thoughtful, and scrupulously honest".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2024/12/26/1045646076/manmohan-singh-dies-india|title=Manmohan Singh, India's prime minister from 2004 to 2014, has died|publisher=NPR|date=26 December 2024|accessdate=26 December 2024}}</ref>

Political opponents, including BJP co-founder [[L. K. Advani]], have claimed that Singh is a "weak" prime minister. Advani declared "He is weak. What do I call a person who can't take his decisions until [[10 Janpath]] gives instruction."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/manmohan-singh-lk-advani-jan-chetna-yatra/1/157000.html |title=Manmohan Singh is a weak PM, reiterates Advani: East News – India Today |access-date=17 May 2012 |archive-date=22 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022161250/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/manmohan-singh-lk-advani-jan-chetna-yatra/1/157000.html |url-status=live }}. Indiatoday.intoday.in (21 October 2011). Retrieved 17 May 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_manmohan-singh-weak-pm-unbecoming-of-the-coveted-post-bjp_1640518 |title=Manmohan Singh weak PM, unbecoming of the coveted post: BJP – India – DNA |access-date=17 May 2012 |archive-date=4 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304035221/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_manmohan-singh-weak-pm-unbecoming-of-the-coveted-post-bjp_1640518 |url-status=live }}. Dnaindia.com (21 January 2012). Retrieved 17 May 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/dangerous-to-have-a-weak-pm-anna_746121.html |title=Dangerous to have a weak PM: Anna |access-date=17 May 2012 |archive-date=16 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316060001/http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/dangerous-to-have-a-weak-pm-anna_746121.html |url-status=live }}. Zeenews.India.com (9 December 2011). Retrieved 17 May 2012.</ref> [[Arvind Kejriwal]] in 2018 said the people are "missing an educated PM like Dr Manmohan Singh".<ref name="NDTV.com2">{{cite news |last1=Sethi |first1=Nidhi |title="Missing 'Educated Prime Minister' Like Manmohan Singh": Arvind Kejriwal |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/missing-educated-prime-minister-like-manmohan-singh-arvind-kejriwal-1860549 |access-date=16 August 2023 |work=NDTV |date=31 May 2018}}</ref> In 2022, Union Transport Minister of Modi Government, [[Nitin Gadkari]] said the "country is indebted to Manmohan Singh for the liberalisation that gave a new direction".<ref name="NDTV.com3">{{cite news |title="Country Is Indebted To Him": Nitin Gadkari's Praise For Manmohan Singh |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nitin-gadkaris-praise-for-manmohan-singh-country-is-indebted-to-him-3502152 |access-date=16 August 2023 |work=NDTV |agency=PTI |date=8 November 2022 |archive-date=16 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816114605/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nitin-gadkaris-praise-for-manmohan-singh-country-is-indebted-to-him-3502152 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2013, BJP leader [[Narendra Modi]] had termed Singh as "night watchman" and a "puppet of the Gandhi family".<ref name="NDTV.com">{{cite news |last=Das |first=Mala |date=22 February 2019 |title=Narendra Modi targets Gandhis, calls Manmohan Singh 'night watchman' |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/narendra-modi-targets-gandhis-calls-manmohan-singh-night-watchman-514997 |work=NDTV |access-date=16 August 2023 |archive-date=16 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816062413/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/narendra-modi-targets-gandhis-calls-manmohan-singh-night-watchman-514997 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 8 February 2024, Modi praised Manmohan Singh stating,<ref name=modipraise/>

<blockquote>Ideological differences are short lived, but the way Manmohan Singh has guided this House and the country for such a long period, he will be remembered for his contributions during every discussion on our democracy.</blockquote>

Modi also recalled when Singh arrived at the Parliament in a wheelchair to cast his vote over a key legislation.<ref name=modipraise>{{cite news |last1=Mitra |first1=Chandrajit |date=8 February 2024 |title=PM Modi's Big Praise For Manmohan Singh: "Ideological Differences, But..." |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/example-of-being-alert-of-duties-pm-narendra-modis-big-praise-for-manmohan-singh-5016993 |work=NDTV |access-date=29 July 2024 |archive-date=29 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240729141008/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/example-of-being-alert-of-duties-pm-narendra-modis-big-praise-for-manmohan-singh-5016993 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following his death, Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] called Singh one of "India's most distinguished leaders" and declared national mourning.<ref name="bloomberg" /> President [[Droupadi Murmu]], Vice-President [[Jagdeep Dhankhar]], Opposition Leader [[Rahul Gandhi]], Home Affairs Minister [[Amit Shah]], Defence Minister [[Rajnath Singh]] and former Prime Minister [[H. D. Deve Gowda]] issued statements praising Singh and his leadership after his death.<ref>{{cite web |date=26 December 2024 |title=Former PM Manmohan Singh death reactions LIVE: PM Modi, leaders pay tribute |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/former-prime-minsiter-manmohan-singh-passes-away-reactions-live-updates/article69030751.ece |accessdate=26 December 2024 |work=The Hindu}}</ref>[[Mauritius]]<ref name="n045">{{cite web | author=The Hindu Bureau | title=As mark of respect for Manmohan Singh, Mauritius flag to be flown half-mast till sunset on December 28 | website=The Hindu | date=28 December 2024 | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/as-mark-of-respect-for-manmohan-singh-mauritius-flag-to-be-flown-half-mast-till-sunset-on-december-28/article69036428.ece | access-date=29 December 2024 | archive-date=28 December 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228092953/https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/as-mark-of-respect-for-manmohan-singh-mauritius-flag-to-be-flown-half-mast-till-sunset-on-december-28/article69036428.ece | url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Bhutan]]<ref name="j193">{{cite web | title=Special prayers for Manmohan Singh held across Bhutan, King attends funeral | website=Business Standard | date=28 December 2024 | url=https://www.business-standard.com/external-affairs-defence-security/news/special-prayers-for-manmohan-singh-held-across-bhutan-king-attends-funeral-124122800414_1.html | access-date=29 December 2024}}</ref> flew their flags at half-mast to mourn the death of Singh.