Manmohan Singh: The controversy over not giving land for Manmohan Singh‘s memorial is increasing. Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday that the central government has insulted the first Prime Minister of the Sikh community, Dr. Manmohan Singh, by getting his last rites done at Nigambodh Ghat.
On the other hand, Kejriwal said, I am shocked to hear this news. The BJP government could not even provide 1000 yards of land for Manmohan’s funeral and memorial. Till now, the funeral of all the Prime Ministers was done at Raj Ghat.
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On December 27, Kharge had asked for land for the memorial
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had written a letter to PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday evening. He had said that the memorial should be built at the place where Dr. Singh’s last rites are performed. According to Congress sources, Dr. Singh’s wife Gursharan Kaur also wanted the same.
The Centre said that they are looking for a place
On this, the Home Ministry said, ‘Nigambodh Ghat has been chosen for the last rites. The memorial will be built in Delhi. A suitable place will be searched for this and a trust will be formed. The process will take time.’
Congress shared Kharge’s letter on X
Kharge wrote a letter to PM Modi. Congress shared it on its X handle.
Congress said- this is an insult to the first Sikh PM
- After the Home Ministry’s reply, Congress leader KC Venugopal said- The government could not even find land to build the memorial. This is an insult to the country’s first Sikh PM.
- Priyanka Gandhi suggested building Dr Singh’s memorial near Shakti Sthal (Indira Gandhi’s memorial) or Veer Bhumi (Rajiv Gandhi’s memorial).
- BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said, ‘Congress never respected Dr. Singh. Even today, it is doing politics after his death.’
- BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan said, ‘The UPA government never built any memorial for Narasimha Rao ji in Delhi. The body was not even kept at the Congress headquarters. PM Modi honoured him with Bharat Ratna.’
BJP said- the process of building a memorial takes time
Sudhanshu Trivedi said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has told Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge that whatever time it takes after the completion of processes like land acquisition, formation of trust, that work will be done in a proper manner and as soon as possible.
Sudhanshu Trivedi said that Congress never respected Dr. Singh. Even today, after his death, they are playing politics. Dr. Singh was the first Prime Minister outside the Nehru-Gandhi family to hold the post of PM for 10 years. Politics should be avoided in this hour of grief. PM Modi’s government has given respect to all the leaders by rising above party sentiments.
4 leaders question Centre over memorial controversy
Navjot Singh Sidhu: If Atal Ji’s last rites were to happen and someone said it wouldn’t be at Raj Ghat, how would that feel? And if his memorial wouldn’t be built there but elsewhere, what would that signify? This issue isn’t about a party; it’s about the nation’s history. He was a special person, a living history. Knowing what’s right and not acting on it is wrong. We need to show magnanimity.”
Akhilesh Yadav: The tradition of respect should be followed in the context of the former Prime Minister. BJP should not set an inappropriate example.
Sanjay Singh: Not providing a place near Rajghat for cremation of the only Prime Minister from the Sikh community shows the narrow thinking of the government.
Sukhbir Singh Badal: The place for Dr Singh’s memorial should be Rajghat. The established practice and tradition followed in the past should be kept in mind.
Pranab Mukherjee’s Daughter Slams Congress
“After my father’s demise, the CWC did not hold a condolence meeting. However, a CWC meeting was called upon the death of former President K.R. Narayanan. The draft for the condolence message was prepared by my father, Pranab Mukherjee, himself.”
— Sharmistha Mukherjee, Daughter of Pranab Mukherjee
Vajpayee’s funeral took place at Raj Ghat, where his memorial was also built
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee died on 16 August 2018. His last rites were performed at the national memorial site Rajghat on 18 August 2018. On 25 December 2018, a memorial to Atal Bihari Vajpayee was built on 1.5 acres of land at Rajghat.
Manmohan is the first Sikh PM of the country, the fourth longest serving leader in this post
Dr. Manmohan Singh died on Thursday night. He was 92 years old. He was ill for a long time. He was brought to Delhi AIIMS at 8:06 pm after fainting at home. According to the hospital bulletin, he breathed his last at 9:51 pm.
Manmohan Singh became the 14th Prime Minister of the country in 2004. He served two terms in this post till May 2014. He was the first Sikh and the fourth longest-serving Prime Minister of the country.
The Centre has declared 7 days of national mourning on his demise. Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Kharge went straight to Manmohan Singh’s residence after reaching Delhi from Belgaum late Thursday night.
Rahul wrote on X- I have lost my guide and guru. Congress has cancelled all its programs till January 3.
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