Manmohan Singh Funeral: The last rites of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be conducted at 11:45 am on Saturday, 28th December 2024, at Nigambodh Ghat with full State honours, the Union Home Ministry announced on Friday. Singh, who passed away on Thursday night at AIIMS New Delhi at the age of 92, will be accorded a State funeral with military honours, as per the Ministry of Defence's arrangements.
The decision, however, has sparked a sharp reaction from the Congress as General Secretary Jairam Ramesh called the choice of venue a "deliberate insult to India's first Sikh Prime Minister".
"This morning, the Congress President wrote to the Prime Minister proposing that former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh be cremated at a place where a memorial can be built to honour his legacy. The people of our country are unable to understand why the Indian government could not find a place for his funeral and memorial befitting his global stature, record of outstanding achievements and remarkable service to the nation for decades. This is nothing but a deliberate insult to India's first Sikh Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh," he wrote.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader and ex-Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed that the Modi government ignored the family's wishes.
"Shocking and unbelievable! It is extremely condemnable that the Union Govt has declined the request of Dr Manmohan Singh Ji’s family for performing the funeral and last rites of the highly distinguished leader at a place where an appropriate and historic memorial may be built to commemorate his unparalleled services to the nation. This place should be Raj Ghat. This will be in keeping with the settled practice and tradition followed in the past. It is inexplicable why the govt is showing such disrespect to the great leader who was the only member of the Sikh community to rise to become the Prime Minister," he wrote on X.
He added, " I am unable to believe that the BJP govt’s bias would go to such extremes in utter disregard of the towering global stature which Dr Manmohan Singh ji enjoyed and will always enjoy."
Sukhbir Badal urged PM Modi's personal intervention as he termed the venue as a "deplorable decision of the govt."
Earlier, All India Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba criticised the choice of Nigambodh Ghat, calling it an inappropriate location given Singh’s stature.
She voiced her objection on social media, saying, “How can the last rites of Sardar Manmohan Singh Ji take place at Nigambodh Ghat? This would be against the honour of such a leader. This has not happened with any former Prime Minister, the recent example being Atal Ji, whose funeral and memorial were appropriately placed. This decision is unfortunate and deeply hurtful.”
She further accused the government of disrespect, stating, “Prime Minister @narendramodi ji, this decision of your government is very unfortunate - Sardar Manmohan Singh ji's funeral and memorial should have been done with respect without any controversy - What sort of a revenge is being taken from Sardar Manmohan Singh ji, the son of Mother India, even after his death?”
Union Govt Decides To Build Manmohan Singh's Memorial, Informed Congress: Report
Meanwhile, news agency PTI cited official sources as informing that the Union government has decided to make a memorial to Manmohan Singh in the national capital, while they accused the Congress of doing politics over the issue.
The PTI sources stated the Congress has been informed about the decision on the memorial and stated that it would take a few days to find an appropriate venue for building a memorial.
"The government's decision to build a memorial in honour of Manmohan Singh has been conveyed to the Congress. But they have engaged in politics over the issue," a government source told PTI.
Manmohan Singh Death: Kharge Urges PM Modi For Memorial At Funeral Site
Earlier, Kharge, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urged the government to conduct the funeral at a site where a memorial could be constructed. Following a telephone conversation with Modi, he emphasised that Singh’s contributions as an economist and a statesman warranted such a gesture, stating, "This is in keeping with such tradition of having memorials of statesmen and former Prime Ministers at the very place of their funerals."
Recalling Manmohan Singh’s role in steering the country out of economic crises and his global recognition, Kharge added, "President Obama during his tenure as President of the US remarked, 'Whenever the Indian Prime Minister speaks, the whole world listens to him.'"
Manmohan Singh, a two-term Prime Minister, is widely respected for his economic acumen and leadership during challenging times, including the global financial crisis. His contributions as Finance Minister in the 1990s are credited with shaping India’s modern economic trajectory.
The Congress party has reiterated its "earnest request" for a befitting resting place and memorial for Singh as a tribute to his legacy. As of now, the funeral will proceed as planned at Nigambodh Ghat.