Holding former PM Manmohan Singh’s last rites at Nigambodh Ghat was ‘totally insulting’: Congress

Hours before his last rites, a political row erupted between Congress and the BJP over the establishment of his memorial. In response, the Centre said that a decision had already been made to set up a memorial, and a trust would be formed shortly to identify an appropriate spot.

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | Updated: December 28, 2024 09:35 PM IST

4 min read

A government statement also said the funeral could be held as the process of setting up a trust and allotting land for the memorial could take a while. (PTI Photo)

A political slugfest ensued between Congress and the BJP over the arrangements for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s last rites and memorial. The Congress on Saturday accused the Centre of insulting the former PM by carrying out his last rites at Delhi’s Nigambodh Ghat instead of a designated spot that could later serve as his memorial.

The Congress has formally requested the Centre to allocate a resting place for Singh, who passed away on Thursday night, along the Yamuna river in Delhi, where several former prime ministers have memorials. Hours before his last rites, a political row erupted between Congress and the BJP over the establishment of his memorial. In response, the Centre said that a decision had already been made to set up a memorial, and a trust would be formed shortly to identify an appropriate spot.

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha said that performing his last rites at the Nigambodh Ghat was “totally insulting.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi said, “The great son of Mother India and the first prime minister from the Sikh community has been totally insulted by the BJP-led Centre by performing his last rites at the Nigambodh Ghat.”

“Till date, respecting the dignity of all former prime ministers, their last rites were performed at authorised burial sites so that every person could have a last darshan and pay homage without any inconvenience,” he added. “Dr Manmohan Singh deserves our highest respect and a memorial. The government should have shown respect to this great son of the country and his proud community,” Gandhi said.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi said that the Government has not done justice to the dignity of the post of former Prime Minister by not providing an appropriate place for the former prime minister’s cremation. She said that earlier, all former prime ministers were given the highest honour and respect.

“This morning, I felt this when I saw Dr Manmohan Singhji’s family members struggling for a place at the funeral site, trying to find a place in the crowd, and the general public getting troubled due to the lack of space and paying tributes from the road outside,” Priyanka Gandhi said in a post on X.

Former Indian Youth Congress chief B V Srinivas said when former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away in August 2018, his funeral took place at the National Memorial, the designated place for the cremation of former presidents, vice-presidents and prime ministers.

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Lashing out at PM Narendra Modi-led BJP Government, he said, “But during the tenure of the same prime minister, Narendra Modi, the last rites of former prime minister Manmohan Singh were performed at the public Nigambodh Ghat instead of the National Memorial. Because he was a Congress leader, not a BJP leader?”

After the issue of a memorial for Manmohan Singh took on a political note, the Centre clarified that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had already informed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge about the decision to build one, following Friday’s Cabinet meeting.

BJP spokesperson Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi reiterated that the Centre has decided to build a memorial and mausoleum in the memory of Singh. “This work will be completed soon after land acquisition, trust formation and other procedures are completed,” he said.

He added, “It is sad that the Congress, which never gave real respect to Dr. Manmohan Singh ji in his lifetime, is now doing politics in the name of his respect. In 2014, when the government was leaving, it tried to create a memorial, but today also it has chosen the same topic for politics, which is very regrettable.”

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AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal also said he was “shocked” upon hearing the news.

“The BJP government could not provide even 1000 yards of land for the last rites and burial of Dr. Manmohan Singh, who belonged to the Sikh community and was renowned all over the world and was the Prime Minister of India for 10 years?,”Kejriwal said in a post on X.

Kharge had written to PM Modi Friday requesting a memorial for Singh. Additionally, various sections of society have called on the government to confer Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honor, to the late economist and former Prime Minister.

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