When Manmohan Singh's 'People Of India Love You' Remark To US' Bush Created A Flutter

"The people of India deeply love you." This was how visiting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke of US President George W Bush while praising him effusively after their 40-minute meeting at the Oval Office in the White House on September 25, 2008. He was flagging Bush's 'important and historic' role in forging several bilateral initiatives including the landmark Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

While the weather was cloudy and rainy in Washington, it was all warmth inside the White House during the eight-minute press interaction by the two leaders who had a word of praise for each other on a few occasions, showing a spirit of bonhomie.

But Singh's gushing praise of Bush in what was seen as a sweeping declaration created a flutter.

Singh died on Thursday night at the age of 92.