Hours before former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is laid to rest on Saturday, a controversy over the establishment of a memorial in his honor has escalated. The dispute has prompted sharp exchanges between the Congress and the BJP, casting a political shadow over the solemn occasion.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider building a memorial for Dr. Singh at the site of his last rites. “This is in keeping with the tradition of having memorials for statesmen and former prime ministers at the very place of their funerals,” Kharge said in his appeal.
In response, Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured that a location for the memorial would be allocated. A press release from the Centre emphasized that the cremation and other formalities should proceed without delay.
अलविदा डॉ. मनमोहन सिंह जी https://t.co/bhfHQYXFtX
— Congress (@INCIndia) December 28, 2024
Congress Criticizes Delay
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized the delay in finalizing the location for the memorial, calling it a disrespect to India’s first Sikh prime minister. “People are unable to understand why the Centre could not find a location for the memorial,” Ramesh remarked, describing the situation as an “insult.”
ALSO READ: Congress seeks separate memorial space for Manmohan Singh
The BJP accused the Congress of politicizing Dr. Singh’s death. “Congress should recall how they treated former PM Narasimha Rao Ji after his death. The daughter of Shri Pranab Mukherjee has also tweeted about how shabbily her father, a former President, was treated by the Congress,” the BJP’s statement read.
The mortal remains of Dr. Singh were placed at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters on Saturday morning, allowing people and Congress workers to pay their respects. (Photo shared on X by Congress)
Dr. Manmohan Singh served as India’s prime minister from 2004 to 2014 and was a distinguished economist, heading the Reserve Bank of India and serving as finance minister under PM PV Narasimha Rao. He passed away on Thursday at AIIMS Delhi at the age of 92.
Details Of Manmohan Singh’s Funeral
The mortal remains of Dr. Singh were placed at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters on Saturday morning, allowing people and Congress workers to pay their respects. His final journey commenced at 9:30 am, proceeding to Nigambodh Ghat, where his last rites will be conducted at 11:45 am with full state honors, according to Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal.
A Nation Mourns
While the political controversy over the memorial has stirred emotions, the nation continues to remember Dr. Singh as a leader of remarkable intellect and integrity, whose contributions to India’s economic and political landscape remain unparalleled.
