Political Controversy: Congress' Demand for a Memorial for Dr. Singh Contradicts UPA's Previous Policies

New Delhi, Dec 27 (NationPress) A political controversy has surfaced following Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge's correspondence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging for a dedicated memorial for Dr. Manmohan Singh. This appeal has not only raised concerns but also ignited debates, particularly in light of the Congress-led UPA governments' previous rejections of such proposals.

Meanwhile, the Congress party has expressed dissatisfaction with the government's choice of Nigambodh Ghat as the site for Dr. Manmohan Singh's final rites.

The core of the issue lies in Congress' demand for a separate memorial site for Dr. Singh, despite earlier Congress-led administrations establishing a unified 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 venue for the last rites of former Prime Ministers since its inauguration in 2013. Notably, former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee was cremated there in 2018.

The current request from Congress for an individual memorial for Dr. Singh sharply contrasts with the UPA government's earlier decisions to deny proposals for standalone memorials for former Prime Ministers. Political analysts and critics have highlighted this inconsistency, questioning the reasoning behind this new stance. Social media platforms have also seen users vocalizing the discrepancy in the party’s position.

In his letter to PM Modi, Mallikarjun Kharge proposed that Dr. Singh’s memorial be established at the location where his last rites would occur. This has ignited a political discourse, with some commentators noting that the Congress’ request diverges from the policies upheld by the UPA government during its tenure.

Indeed, Congress seems to be unhappy with the government's decision to designate Nigambodh Ghat for Dr. Manmohan Singh's last rites. The former Prime Minister's funeral is set to take place at Nigambodh Ghat in the national 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 accord a State funeral to Dr. Manmohan Singh. The funeral will occur at 11:45 a.m. on December 28, 2024, at Nigambodh Ghat, New Delhi. The Ministry of Defence has been tasked with making arrangements for the State funeral with full military honours,” stated the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Reports indicate that during a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, MP Priyanka Gandhi suggested that a section of either Veer Bhumi or Shakti Sthal be allocated for Dr. Singh’s last rites, allowing it to function as a memorial. However, this request faced delays, and despite Congress’ persistent appeals, the government confirmed Nigambodh Ghat as the final venue, offering no guarantees regarding a memorial site.

The Congress leadership, including Kharge, continues to advocate for a location that pays tribute to Dr. Singh's legacy.

As the political turmoil intensifies over the memorial debate, analysts believe that this new demand from Congress signifies a notable departure from its previous stance on memorials for former leaders.

--IAN

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