‘Nothing But Deliberate Insult’: Congress Vs BJP Over Memorial For Manmohan Singh

Last Updated:December 27, 2024, 23:52 IST

The last rites of former PM Dr Manmohan Singh would be performed in Delhi’s Nigambodh Ghat crematorium at 11:45 am on Saturday.

A massive row has erupted over the place allotted by the Ministry of Home Affairs – Nigambodh Ghat crematorium – for the last rites of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh who passed away on Thursday evening, as BJP and Opposition clashed over the issue.

While the Congress condemned the allocation of the Nigambodh Ghat for the final rituals instead of a location where a memorial could be built in his honour, the BJP reminded that the Congress government did not build a memorial in the honour of former PM Narasimha Rao.

Govt To Build Manmohan Singh’s Memorial, Conveyed Decision To Congress: Sources

As the politics over the issue picked pace on Friday, sources told news agency PTI that the Centre has decided to make a memorial of the late former Prime Minister in the national capital.

The sources said that the decision in this regard has been conveyed to the Congress party, however, added that it will take a few days time to find an appropriate place for the memorial.

“The government’s decision to build a memorial in honour of Manmohan Singh has been conveyed to the Congress. But they have engaged in politics over the issue,” a government source said.

Kharge Writes To PM Modi Over Memorial

The political slugfest comes after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day, urging him to hold the last rites of the late PM at a place where his memorial could be built.

“Apropos our telephonic conversation today morning, wherein made a request to hold Dr. Manmohan, Singh’s last rites, which will take place tomorrow i.e. 28th December 2024. at his final resting place that would be a sacrosanct venue for memorial of the great son of India. This is in keeping with such tradition of having memorials of statesmen and former Prime Ministers at the very place of their funerals,” Kharge said in the letter to the Prime Minister.

Akali Dal Claims Centre ‘Declined’ Ex-PM’s Family’s Demand For Memorial

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed that the Centre “declined” the request by Manmohan Singh’s family for the funeral to be held at a place where a memorial could be built in his memory.

“Shocking and unbelievable! It is condemnable in the extreme that Union Govt has declined the request of Dr Manmohan Singh Ji’s family for performing the funeral and last rites of the highly distinguished leader at a place where an appropriate and historic memorial may be built to commemorate his unparalleled services to the nation. This place should be Raj Ghat. This will be in keeping with the settled practice and tradition followed in the past,” Badal claimed.

BJP Reacts To Memorial Demand

BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan shared Kharge’s letter and highlighted the portion of the texts urging for the memorial, and said that it was “ironic” of the Congress president to write to PM Modi about traditions and funeral place becoming the sacrosanct venue for a memorial.

“One should remind Kharge ji how the Congress-led UPA Govt never built a memorial in Delhi for former PM Narasimha Rao ji, who passed away in 2004. The Congress never built a memorial for him in the 10 years they were in power from 2004-2014,” he said.

He highlighted that it is the Narendra Modi government which instituted a memorial for Narasimha Rao and honoured him with Bharat Ratna posthumously this year.

“Sanjaya Baru claimed in his book that the Congress did not want Rao’s cremation to take place in Delhi, but rather in Hyderabad, and that he had been approached to convey this to Rao’s children. The cremation did take place in Hyderabad, with Rao’s body not even laid in state at the All India Congress Committee’s headquarters,” Kesavan said.

Pranab Mukherjee’s Daughter Slams Congress

Sharmistha, daughter of the late Congress leader who went on to become India’s President, said that Congress did not “bother to call CWC for condolence meeting” after his demise as she was told by a senior party leader that it’s not done for Presidents.

“A senior leader told me it’s not done 4 Presidents. That’s utter rubbish as I learned later from baba’s diaries that on KR Narayanan’s death, CWC was called & condolence msg was drafted by baba only,” she wrote on X.

Congress Alleges ‘Deliberate Insult’ To Manmohan Singh

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that the government is “insulting” the first Sikh PM of the country “deliberately”.

“Earlier this morning, Congress President had written to the Prime Minister, suggesting that the cremation of the former Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, take place at a location where a memorial could be built to honour his legacy,” he tweeted.

“The people of our country are simply unable to understand why the Government of India could not find a location for his cremation and memorial that is befitting of his global stature, record of outstanding achievements, and exemplary service to the nation for decades. This is nothing but a deliberate insult to the first Sikh Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh,” Jairam added.

Congress MP Manish Tewari called the allocation of Nigambodh Ghat for last rites “unfortunate”, and said that he should have been cremated where other former PMs were cremated.

“If what is appearing in the Public Space is correct that the cremation of Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will be held at Nigambodh Ghat, it is extremely unfortunate. If Late Dr Manmohan Singh’s family wanted it that way then it is a different matter otherwise he should be cremated where the last rites of other Former Prime Ministers have taken place,” he said.

INDIA Allies Back Congress’ Demand, Slams BJP

Samajwadi Party chief and Lok Sabha MP Akhilesh Yadav said that no politics should be done on the issue and Manmohan Singh’s memorial should be built at Rajghat.

“The tradition of honoring the memorial of the former Prime Minister of the country must be upheld. There is no need for politics on this issue, nor should there be any. Dr. Manmohan Singh’s memorial should be established at Rajghat itself. The BJP should not set an inappropriate example of its narrow-minded thinking. History will never forgive the BJP for its negative outlook on this matter,” he posted on X.

TMC MP Saket Gokhale said that it would be “petty of the Modi government” to refuse a memorial for a “giant” like Manmohan Singh.

“A two-term PM & the architect of modern Indian economy deserves a memorial. Let political pettiness of BJP not get in the way of honoring our beloved former PM Dr Singh,” he said.