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Article: Economist Singh named next prime minister of India; He acknowledges Sonia Gandhi, who declined the post
- Article from:
- Telegraph - Herald (Dubuque)
- Article date:
- May 20, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2004 Telegraph - Herald (Dubuque). Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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NEW DELHI (AP) - Manmohan Singh, whose humble origins inspired him
to start the reforms that opened up India's economy, was named
prime minister Wednesday, ending weeks of turmoil that culminated
with Sonia Gandhi's refusal to take the post.
Singh, the first Sikh prime minister in the mainly Hindu nation's
post-colonial history, said he was accepting the position even though
voters signaled they wanted Gandhi.
"The mandate of the people of India was to make Sonia Gandhi the
prime minister," the softspoken Singh said as photographers screamed
for him to display his letter of appointment from President A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam outside the ornate, sandstone presidential palace.
Kalam appointed the ...