Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Friday wholeheartedly congratulated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his unique achievement of receiving the 2010 World Statesman Award for building Indo-US partnership.
Describing Dr Manmohan Singh as one of the most eminent economists of the world and also a Statesman par excellence, Mr Rosaiah said that “Dr Manmohan Singh is one of the most respected leaders of the world today. His patience, perseverance, honesty, integrity, leadership, intelligence and administrative acumen are worth emulating,” the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister recalled the statement of US Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Bill Burs, who said “there could be no better choice and no better model of what integrity and statesmanship are all about on the world stage... a man of uncommon decency and grace and he never lost sight of his responsibility to lead every Indian”.
The Chief Minister also said that Dr Manmohan Singh is a leader of great modesty, humility and even temperament. The Prime Minister received this coveted award in absentia constituted by the Appeals of Conscience Foundation at an awards ceremony in New York on Thursday.
The Chief Minister said that Dr Singh has been the key architect of leading India to become an economic super power with an admirable growth rate amidst the global recession and also giving the country an uncompromising and transparent leadership which elevated the prestige of the country among the comity of nations.
The economic reforms process launched by Dr Singh resulted in the end of the License Raj system and helped open the Indian economy to greater international trade and investment.
Mr Rosaiah said under the able leadership and guidance of UPA Chairperson, Ms Sonia Gandhi, the Prime Minister, Dr Singh had paved a path for building a formidable knowledge society which had propelled India as a super economic power on par with the Western countries. These two great leaders together were responsible for launching the most popular scheme the National Rural Employment Programme which in fact changed the very face of rural India and its economic growth today.
Describing the Prime Minister as a visionary and a leader who pioneered reforms with human face, the Chief Minister said that “Dr Singh will remain as an unparalleled leader in the Indian history. He said that under the guidance and stewardship of the Prime Minister, Andhra Pradesh took the lead and became a role model in implementing several innovative programs like NREGP, Right to Information Right to Education, and Unique ID. He said thanks to the encouragement and support given by the Prime Minister that Andhra Pradesh government has successfully implemented several farmer friendly programs.
In 2010, TIME magazine listed him among the 100 most influential people in the world. Newsweek magazine also listed him as one of 10 world leaders who have won respect and was described as “the leader other leaders love”. Mr Rosaiah said the Prime Minister was rightly acclaimed as a thinker, a scholar and regarded for his diligence, accessibility and his very unassuming demeanor.