Manmohan Singh pays tribute to Narasimha Rao on his 91th birth anniversary

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today led the nation in paying tribute to former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao on his 91th birth anniversary.

Singh attended a prayer meeting at the Andhra Pradesh Bhawan here organised by the PV Narasimha Rao Memorial Committee.

Interestingly, controversial godman Chandraswami, believed to be close to Rao, was also present on the occasion.

Manmohan Singh, who was the finance minister in Rao's cabinet during 1991-96, offered tribute at the late Congress leader's portrait and listened to bhajans for sometime.

Congress MPs from Andhra Pradesh and members of Rao's family welcomed the prime minister. Anti-Terrorist Front chairman MS Bitta was also present.

Singh has been a regular at prayer meetings organised on the birth and death anniversaries of Rao since 2004.

At the AICC headquarters, party spokesperson Manish Tiwari, when asked by reporters why Rao was being "ignored" on his birth anniversary, remarked that the Congress party holds its leaders "in great respect and Rao did serve as prime minister from 1991-96".

In Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy paid floral tributes to Rao at PV Ghat.