New Delhi: Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi on April 04, 2024, took oath as Rajya Sabha MP for the first time from Rajasthan, filling the seat that fell vacant after former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh completed his tenure on April 3. This came a few days before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections that are scheduled to take place in seven phases. Smt. Sonia Gandhi was sworn in as Rajya Sabha MP in the presence of Leader of the House and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Shri Mallikarjun Kharge. Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman and Secretary General were also present.

In a post on Twitter, Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge said, “My best wishes to the Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson, Smt. Sonia Gandhi as she begins her new innings, by taking oath in the Rajya Sabha.

Her courageous resilience and dignified grace, in the wake of adversity and upheaval, shall continue to guide our Parliamentary strategy.

She has completed 25 years serving the Lok Sabha, and now my fellow members and I await her presence in the Upper House. I wish her a fruitful tenure ahead.” Congress leader Shri Ajay Maken (Karnataka) also took oath. Vice-president of India and Rajya Sabha Chairman administered the oath to them in the new Parliament House building.

Farwell to Dr. Manmohan Singh after 33 years in public service life

Dr. Manmohan Singh got retired on April 3, 2024, after 33 years in public service. Dr. Manmohan Singh has made immense contributions to make India ‘Self-Reliant’. He is a man who speaks little and accomplishes much. He is a man who never indulges in self-glory but is prepared to give credit to others, including critics and opponents, where it is due. He is the symbol of simplicity, austerity, and integrity.

Some of the achievements of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh are: • From 2004-2014, India’s nominal GDP per capita went from $635 to $1560 - a growth of 145% • From 2014-2024, India’s nominal GDP per capita went from $1560 to $2850 - a growth of 82% • India’s total GDP, adjusted for inflation, grew by 7.5% per year under Dr. Singh, compared to just 5.8% under Modi. The 10 years of Dr. Manmohan Singh’s tenure transformed India’s economy and society for the better: • 27 crore people were lifted out of poverty. • Legislation like MGNREGA and the National Food Security Act provided a lifeline to India’s people, whether they were in poverty, dealing with the shocks of demonetisation or COVID, or unable to find employment. • Real wages for unskilled labourers grew 285%, compared to just 60% during Modi’s misrule. • Dr. Manmohan Singh-led UPA-Government had waived about 72,000 Crores of farmers loan waiver in 2008-09. MSP for paddy grew by 140%, versus just 55% under the kisaan-virodhi BJP. • Foreign Direct Investment doubled, from 0.8% to 1.7% of GDP. Under Modi, it has fallen to just 1.5% of GDP. • Exports grew by 320%, vs just 50% in the last 10 years. • Development is defined by people shifting from farming and unstable self-employment to factories and stable, salaried jobs. Dr. Singh oversaw a record shift away from agriculture – under Modi, there has instead been an unprecedented increase in the absolute number of people employed in agriculture. • Under Dr. Singh, salaried workers increased from 18.5% to 23% of all workers, while self-employment decreased from 55% to 51%. The reverse has happened under Modi - salaried workers have decreased from 23% to 21%, while self-employed have increased from 51% to 57%. Popular programmes of his tenure were RTI, RTE, Food Security like so many other milestones programmes.