NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Friday criticized the BJP-led central government and termed its decision to conduct the last rites of former prime minister Manmohan Singh at Nigambodh Ghat as “a deliberate insult” to the prime minister. Sikh Prime Minister of India.
Sharing a post on a monument to honor his legacy.”
“The people of our country simply cannot understand why the Government of India could not find a place for his cremation and a memorial that lives up to his global stature, his record of outstanding achievements and his exemplary service to the nation for decades. This is nothing more than a deliberate insult to the former. Sikh Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh,” he added.
The comments came in the wake of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to arrange Dr Manmohan Singh’s funeral at a location where a memorial could be established in his honor at his final resting place.
Kharge asserted that such a gesture would be a fitting tribute to a leader of Singh’s stature and legacy, while also aligning with traditions observed for former prime ministers.
However, no official response from the government has yet been issued in this regard.
The Union government’s “decision to build a monument in honor of Manmohan Singh has been conveyed to the Congress. But they have gone into politics over the issue,” PTI said, citing official sources.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s last rites are scheduled to be held at Nigambodh Ghat on Saturday with full state honours.
“The Government has decided to grant a State funeral 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 its report. statement.
Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that the Center had “rejected” a request by Singh’s family to conduct the funeral and last rites at a place where a suitable memorial could be built.
“Shocking and unbelievable! It is extremely condemnable that the Union Government has rejected the request of Dr Manmohan Singh Ji’s family to conduct the funeral and last rites of the distinguished leader at a place where a historical monument can be built appropriate to commemorate his incomparable services to the nation,” Badal said in a separate post on X.
He went on to state that it is difficult to understand “why the government is showing such disrespect to the great leader who was the only member of the Sikh community to become Prime Minister. As of now, the cremation is scheduled to be carried out at the common cremation ground at Nigambodh ghat. I cannot believe that the BJP government’s bias goes to such extremes without taking into account the imposing global stature that Dr. Manmohan Singh ji has. I enjoyed and will always enjoy.
“Dr Sahib showed great sensitivity and compassion in his dealings with Shiromani Akali Dal on Sikh and Punjab issues. I urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji to personally intervene to change this deplorable decision of the government,” he added.
In a separate post, former Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari stated that “if what appears in the public space is correct and the cremation of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will take place at Nigambodh Ghat, It’s extremely unfortunate.”
“If the family of late Dr Manmohan Singh wanted him like this, then it is a different matter, else he should be cremated where the last rites of other former prime ministers were performed. This great son of Punjab, who was respected in everyone for his erudition, “It is necessary to say a final farewell to knowledge and sagacity, as befits his management of India for ten long years. “That is the minimum that should be done to honor his memory,” he added.
Singh passed away at AIIMS in Delhi on Thursday night at the age of 92 due to age-related health issues. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal had earlier confirmed in a statement that Singh’s final procession would begin from the headquarters to the cremation ground at 9.30 am on Saturday.
“Tomorrow, December 28, at 8 am, his mortal remains will be transferred to the AICC headquarters, where the public and Congress workers will have the opportunity to offer their tributes between 8.30 am and 9.30 am. The journey will begin final of Dr. Singh to the heavenly abode. from the AICC headquarters to the cremation ground tomorrow at 9.30 am,” Venugopal added.
