Kerala Chief Minister has called former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "a distinguished statesman committed to the values of secularism and democracy".

The CPM leader recollected the 'political decency' shown by Dr Singh when the Left parties opposed his efforts to liberalise the Indian economy. "The neoliberal policies introduced by the P V Narasimha Rao government, in which Manmohan Singh was Finance Minister, shook up the Indian economic landscape," noted Pinarayi.

"The Left raised objections highlighting the issues of the policy. He had the magnanimity to respond to criticism without forsaking political decency." Pinarayi hailed Dr Singh's efforts to strengthen India's international relations. "His demise is a huge loss to Indian democracy," he noted.