MHA Confirms Government's Decision to Create Memorial for Former PM Manmohan Singh

New Delhi, Dec 28 (NationPress) The government will dedicate space for a memorial honoring former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, a decision that has been conveyed to his family and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced on Friday evening.

In a late-night statement titled "Details Regarding a Memorial for Former Prime Minister Late Dr Manmohan Singh," the Ministry revealed that a request had been made by the Congress President for the allocation of space for Dr Singh's memorial.

Following a Cabinet meeting, Union Home Minister Amit Shah promptly informed Kharge and Dr Manmohan Singh’s family that the government would allocate the space required for the memorial.

Additionally, the MHA noted that cremation and related formalities can proceed since a Trust must be established and space designated for it.

Dr Singh, who led the Congress-led UPA government and is renowned for his economic reforms, passed away on Thursday at the age of 92.

He served as India’s Prime Minister for a decade from 2004 to 2014.

The Congress party expressed that not locating a site for Dr Singh’s cremation and memorial was a deliberate affront to the nation’s first Sikh Prime Minister.

This issue arose after the Union Home Ministry indicated that Dr Singh’s last rites would occur at New Delhi’s Nigambodh Ghat at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, with full state honors.

Earlier on Friday, a political controversy surfaced when Congress Chief Kharge reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting a distinct memorial for Dr Manmohan Singh. This demand has ignited discussions, particularly considering the historical context where Congress-led UPA governments previously rejected similar requests.

Central to the matter is Congress' appeal for a dedicated memorial site for Dr Singh, even though prior Congress-led governments established a shared memorial, Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, for the cremation of VVIPs. This location, nestled between the memorials of Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri, has served as the site for former Prime Ministers' last rites since its inauguration in 2013. Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee was also cremated there in 2018.

The current demand from the Congress for a separate memorial for Dr Singh contrasts with the UPA government’s earlier position, which dismissed proposals for individual memorials for past Prime Ministers. Political analysts and critics have noted this inconsistency, questioning the rationale behind the current request. Social media users have also voiced their opinions on the party’s changing stance.

In his letter to Prime Minister Modi, Kharge proposed that Dr Singh’s memorial be constructed at the location where his last rites are to be conducted. This suggestion has fueled a political dialogue, with some observers indicating that the Congress' request seems to deviate from the former policies of the UPA government.

However, Congress remains unsatisfied with the government’s decision to select Nigambodh Ghat as the venue for Dr Manmohan Singh's last rites. The former Prime Minister’s funeral is set to occur at Nigambodh Ghat in the capital on Saturday afternoon.

“Dr Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister, passed away at 9:51 p.m. on December 26, 2024, at AIIMS Hospital, New Delhi. The government has decided to grant Dr Manmohan Singh a State funeral. The funeral will be held at 11:45 a.m. on December 28, 2024, at Nigambodh Ghat, New Delhi. The Ministry of Defence has been requested to arrange for the State funeral with full military honors,” stated the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Reports suggest that during a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, MP Priyanka Gandhi proposed allocating a section of either Veer Bhumi or Shakti Sthal for Dr Singh’s last rites, enabling it to serve as a memorial. However, this request was delayed, and despite Congress’ insistence, the government confirmed Nigambodh Ghat as the final location, providing no assurance regarding the establishment of a memorial site.

The Congress leadership, including Kharge, continues to advocate for a site that honors Dr Singh's legacy.

As the political debate intensifies over the memorial issue, observers believe that Congress' new demand marks a significant departure from its previous stance on memorials for former leaders.