New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is set to demit office on May 16 after 10 years in power, met his staff at the PMO to say goodbye on Tuesday and thanked them for their assistance.
Exchanging pleasantries with his 110 personal staff members and about 400 other peripheral staff in South Block, the PM expressed his gratitude and in return received accolades, as they cheered him well.
Mr Singh will hold his last Cabinet meeting on Saturday. Then he would meet President Pranab Mukherjee after which he will address the nation. On the same day, he will host high tea for the members of his Council of Ministers after which the President will host a dinner for all of them.
BJP leader Arun Jaitley praised Mr Singh, saying the PM’s personal integrity was always above board. He also termed him as a “syana aadmi” or a wise man.
Mr Jaitley in his blog wrote that as curtains draw to a close after a 10-year-long period of leading the government, the PM “goes out with dignity and grace”.
“He will remain an elder statesman and a man of credibility to guide the nation. Only if he had stood up at the right time and disagreed he would have been regarded with still a greater honour,” Mr Jaitley wrote.
