NEW DELHI: After Dr Manmohan Singh’s passing, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to honour the former prime minister by establishing a memorial at his final resting place. Describing Singh as a “great son of India,” Kharge said that a memorial would be a fitting tribute to a leader who rose from humble beginnings to become a statesman of immense stature.
“This is in keeping with such tradition of having memorials of statesmen and former Prime Ministers at the very place of their funerals. Dr. Manmohan Singh holds a highly revered place in the psyche of the country and the people of this nation. While his contributions and achievements are phenomenal, I would like to dwell here on some of his very significant accomplishments,” Kharge wrote in his letter.
Kharge recalled Singh’s pivotal role in transforming India’s economic landscape during a time of crisis, noting that “the nation today reaps the benefits of the robust economic foundations built by him.”
“When the nation was in the throes of grave economic crisis, it was Dr. Manmohan Singh as finance minister, who took India out of the crisis and also led the country towards economic prosperity and stability. The nation today reaps the benefits of the robust economic foundations built by them,” Kharge wrote.
The Congress President also recounted Singh’s global reputation, quoting former US President Barack Obama, who had once said, “Whenever the Indian Prime Minister speaks, the whole world listens to him.”
Singh passed away at AIIMS in Delhi on Thursday night at the age of 92 following age-related health issues. The Union home ministry has confirmed that his last rites will be conducted on Saturday with full state honours at Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi.
As tributes poured in, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi called Singh the “epitome of wisdom, nobility, and humility.” Reflecting on her personal connection with the former prime minister, she said, “He was my friend, philosopher, and guide… His compassion and vision transformed and empowered the lives of millions of Indians.”
The Congress Working Committee also issued a resolution recognising Singh as the architect of India’s economic liberalisation and a statesman who embodied compassion, honesty, and integrity.