New Delhi:
As the nation prepares to bid farewell to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday, a controversy has emerged regarding the proposed memorial for him. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has urged the Congress party to avoid exploiting his memory for political gain.
On Friday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting the idea of constructing a memorial for Singh at the location where his last rites will take place. Kharge emphasized that this practice aligns with the tradition of honoring statesmen and former prime ministers at their funeral sites.
In response, a statement from the central government indicated that Union Home Minister Amit Shah acknowledged the request and assured that a suitable location for Singh’s memorial would be provided. He mentioned that the cremation and related rituals could proceed concurrently.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized the BJP, expressing disbelief that the central government was unable to designate a location for the memorial. He described the situation as disrespectful to India’s first Sikh prime minister.
The BJP countered this narrative, accusing Congress of engaging in politically charged tactics surrounding Singh’s passing. A party statement reminded Congress of its previous treatment of former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and referenced remarks from Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter, highlighting how her father was treated after his death.
Dr. Singh, who served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, passed away at the age of 92 at AIIMS Delhi. His remains will be available for public viewing at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters starting at 8:30 am on Saturday, allowing party members and the public to pay their respects. The funeral procession will move from the AICC headquarters to the cremation site at 9:30 am, with the last rites scheduled to take place at Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi at 11:45 am, accompanied by full state honors.
