On Saturday, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, criticized the central government for performing the last rites of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi.
Gandhi argued that Dr. Manmohan Singh, the first Sikh Prime Minister of India, deserved the ‘highest respect’ and a memorial rather than the public cremation ground.
Taking to X, Rahul Gandhi posted, “The great son of India and the first Prime Minister of the Sikh community, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji has been totally insulted by the present government by performing his last rites today at the Nigambodh Ghat.”
Gandhi further stated that Dr. Manmohan Singh had served as India’s Prime Minister for a decade, during which he turned the country into an ‘economic superpower’, with policies that continue to benefit the poor and marginalized.
“Till date, respecting the dignity of all former Prime Ministers, their last rites have taken place at authorized burial sites so that every person could have the last darshan and pay homage without any inconvenience. 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,” Rahul Gandhi added.
On Friday, Congress urged the government to hold the funeral at a location where it could build a memorial for Dr. Manmohan Singh. However, the Centre stated that while land for the memorial would designated soon, it would not be the site of the funeral.
Congress further condemned this decision, calling it a ‘deliberate insult to the first Sikh Prime Minister of India’.
Taking to X, Jairam Ramesh posted, “Earlier this morning, the 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 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, the 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 further added.
After the Cabinet meeting on Friday, Home Minister Amit Shah informed Congress President Kharge and the family of Dr. Manmohan Singh that the government would allocate space for a memorial.
Meanwhile, cremation and other formalities could proceed, as a trust needed to form for the memorial.
On Saturday, the government conducted a state funeral with full military honors for Dr. Manmohan Singh at Nigambodh Ghat, a public cremation ground in north Delhi.
Dr. Manmohan Singh, aged 92, passed away on Thursday at AIIMS, Delhi, due to age-related medical conditions.
His passing followed a sudden loss of consciousness at his residence, after which he rushed to the hospital.
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