NEW DELHI: Ministry of home affairs on Saturday clarified government’s stance on establishing a memorial for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his final resting place and said that the Union minister Amit Shah, after the Cabinet meet, told Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge that the government will allocate space for the memorial.
MHA, in a statement, said that the cremation and other formalities can proceed because a trust has to be formed and space has to be allocated to it.
“Today morning, government received a request to allocate space for a memorial for former Prime Minister Late Dr Manmohan Singh, from the Congress Party president,” a statement released by MHA read.
“Immediately after the Cabinet meeting, Amit Shah communicated to Congress president Shri Kharge and the family of Late Dr Manmohan Singh that the government will allocate space for the memorial. In the meanwhile cremation and other formalities can happen because a trust has to be formed and space has to be allocated to it,” it added.
Government’s response came hours after, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at the BJP-led central government, calling its decision to conduct the last rites of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Nigambodh Ghat “a deliberate insult” to India’s first Sikh PM.
Sharing a post on X, Jairam said that, “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.”
“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,” he added.
The remarks followed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to arrange for Dr Manmohan Singh’s funeral at a location where a memorial could be established in his honour at his final resting place.
Kharge stated that such a gesture would be a fitting tribute to a leader of Singh’s stature and legacy, while also aligning with the traditions observed for former prime ministers.
The former prime minister Manmohan Singh’s final rites are scheduled to be conducted at Nigambodh Ghat on Saturday with complete State honours.
“It has been decided by the Government that State funeral will be accorded to Dr. Manmohan Singh. The funeral will take place at 11.45 am on December 28 at Nigambodh Ghat, New Delhi,” the ministry of home affairs (MHA) said in their statement.
Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that the Centre had “declined” a request from Singh’s family to conduct the funeral and last rites at a location where an appropriate memorial may be built. “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,” Badal in a separate post on X.