PV architect of economic liberalisation: Venkaiah

Visakhapatnam: VICE President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday described former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao as the architect of economic liberalisation in the world's largest democracy while paying floral tributes on the occasion of his birth centenary here.

He said Rao was a "legendary figure", who had pioneered economic reforms. Stating that the former Prime Minister was a multi-faceted personality-a phenomenal scholar, astute administrator, a litterateur of renown and multi-linguist, he said Rao had steered the country from an economic crisis through his art of consensual leadership and farsighted vision.

Earlier, the Vice President paid homage to the former Prime Minister by garlanding his statue at Circuit House Junction in Visakhapatnam.

He said the bold reforms initiated by Rao have helped in accelerating the country's development over the past three decades. The former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee had implemented the reforms started by Rao in letter and spirit, while the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has speeded up the reforms. "Reforms are the need of the hour and we must adopt the best practices", he added.

Crediting Rao for ending the Licence Raj in the country, the Vice President said that he was the architect of India's economic liberalization. "Importantly, it was Rao who facilitated India's entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO)," he pointed out.

The Vice President said, the former prime Minister had safeguarded the nation's interests effectively on the global stage, although he took over the leadership of the nation during trying times and in a difficult external strategic environment.

Recalling that the former Prime Minister had great love for languages, Naidu said, among his many works, he translated the epic Telugu novel 'Veyi Padagalu' into Hindi titled as 'Sahasra Phan' and also published 'Abala Jeevitam', a Telugu translation of the famous Marathi Novel, "Pan Lakshat Kon gheto".

Narasimha Rao ji, fondly called PV had always vouched for education in mother tongue in schools. "I too have always maintained that the medium of instruction should be the child's mother tongue up to high school level", he added.

Stating that Rao had left an abiding legacy, he said the former President Abdul Kalam had called him a "patriotic statesman who believed that the nation is bigger than the political system." Naidu said today's generation should take inspiration from him and keep the national interest above everything else.

Expressing his disappointment that a great leader like Rao did not get the recognition he so richly deserved, the Vice President said "let us bring forth his contribution for nation building on his birth centenary celebrations".