Memorial for Pranab Mukherjee, Not for Manmohan Singh: NCP (SP) Leader Majeed Memon Critiques Government
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New Delhi, Jan 8 (NationPress) The Centre’s choice to erect a memorial for former President Pranab Mukherjee and exclude former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, both prominent figures in the Congress party, is perceived as a calculated effort to ‘reward’ affiliates of the Modi administration and ‘diminish’ the legacy of a distinguished economist who was key in laying the foundation for the country's liberalization, stated NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Majeed Memon on Wednesday.
During a conversation with IANS, Memon asserted that the decision to reserve land near Rajghat for the late Pranab Mukherjee’s memorial is a politically motivated action and urged senior leaders, including the Prime Minister, to reconsider and ‘act judiciously’ in the broader interest of the nation.
“The Congress raised the request for a memorial for Dr. Manmohan Singh immediately following his passing. However, the Centre has been procrastinating and has not made any announcements regarding a memorial for the nation's foremost economist. This is an attempt to provoke the Opposition. They must realize that citizens are paying attention,” Memon remarked.
The former Rajya Sabha MP further noted that Pranab Mukherjee, although a lifelong Congress member, maintained a close relationship with PM Modi in his later years, which explains the Centre’s ‘gentler’ approach towards him.
On Tuesday, Pranab’s daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee shared a letter from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs indicating that a specific site has been designated for him near Rajghat. She also expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for this honor while recalling her father’s philosophy, “state honors shouldn’t be solicited; they should be bestowed.”
The demise of Manmohan Singh, who served as Prime Minister during UPA I & II and passed away on December 26, ignited a heated exchange between the Congress and the BJP.
The Congress party called for the allocation of land to construct his memorial near Rajghat to honor his contributions and legacy, while the BJP retorted, accusing the long-standing party of failing to acknowledge him while he was alive and resorting to political theatrics even after his death.
