New Delhi: Dr Manmohan Singh, who believed in working quietly and always shunned the spotlight, wouldn’t have wanted this to be happening.
The two-term Prime Minister, who passed away on Thursday night at the age of 92, was cremated with full State honours on Saturday amid a bickering between the Congress and ruling BJP over a memorial space for Dr Singh.
Hours after Rahul Gandhi slammed the Narendra Modi government for the manner in which the former PM’s last rites were performed, BJP hit back at the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, accusing him of “politicising” Singh’s death.
“The kind of deceptive politics Congress has engaged in, especially Rahul Gandhi, is unfortunate. Just an hour ago, Rahul Gandhi tweeted accusing the BJP of disrespecting former PM Manmohan Singh by conducting his last rites at Nigambodh Ghat. On a day of mourning, I believe Congress should have refrained from this kind of politics,” said BJP MP Sambit Patra.
Rahul had earlier expressed his displeasure over Modi government’s decision to choose Nigam Bodh Ghat, a public cremation ground in north Delhi, as the place for Dr Singh’s final rites.
“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,” Rahul posted on X.
Rahul, who has often referred to Singh as his ‘mentor’, said that the man who was India’s Prime Minister for 10 years deserves the highest respect.
“To date, respecting the dignity of all former Prime Ministers, their last rites were performed at authorised 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 wrote.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had written to PM Modi asking for a memorial space for Dr Singh.
The Central government, however, said that land for a memorial would be earmarked in the next few days, but it won’t be the place where the funeral took place.
Patra said a cabinet meeting was called by the Centre as soon as the news of Dr Singh’s demise was announced and Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that a memorial will be built to suit the stature of the late leader.
“We assured Dr Singh’s family and Congress to go ahead with the funeral and last rites process by the time the government allocates the land and other necessary procedures. The Congress party engaged in politics on this matter as well,” said Patra.
The Congress called it a “deliberate insult to the first Sikh Prime Minister of India.”
