Odishatv Bureau

Singapore: Marking an extraordinary gesture, a bust of Jawaharlal Nehru was unveiled here today, which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described as an honour for India and a symbol of friendship between the two countries.

The bronze bust measuring 330x460x510 mm has been erected at the Asian Civilisations Museum, on a green stretch along the Singapore River, clubbing the first Indian Prime Minister with a select group of eminent global personalities, including former Chinese Communist party helmsman Deng Xiaoping. Unveiling the bust along with senior Singaporean leader Goh Chok Tong amid heavy rains, Singh said "in honouring Pandit Nehru today, you honour India and all the values that India stands for -- secularism, democracy, freedom and rule of law."

Observing that the bust commemorates Nehru`s association with Singapore, Singh said that the memorial would serve as a symbol of friendship between the two countries and respect for each other`s achievements. "In celebrating our past, we enhance understanding of each other`s cultures, inspire the younger generation and better prepare ourselves for meeting the challenges of the future," he said.

"The bust and marker will stand as yet another symbol of close relations between India and Singapore and will inspire even greater interest about each other among our peoples," Singh said. Hailing Nehru, Singh said he was not just India`s first Prime Minister but also a visionary, great scholar and in the true sense of the term the builder of modern India.

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