Ex-Indian PM dies

Former Indian Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, who set in motion the nation’s economic liberalisation more than a decade ago, died today. He was 83.

Rao, an astute and dour-faced politician, was prime minister from 1991 to 1996, taking office at a time when India’s state-controlled economy was in deep turmoil with the state treasury facing near bankruptcy.