NEW DELHI: The Union government has announced plans to establish a memorial in the national capital for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, official sources confirmed on Friday. However, they accused the Congress of politicising the issue.
Sources stated that the decision to create the memorial has been conveyed to the Congress but noted it will take a few days to finalise an appropriate location.
“The government’s decision to honour Manmohan Singh with a memorial has been communicated to the Congress, but they have chosen to engage in politics over the matter,” a government source claimed, reported PTI.
Earlier, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting that Singh’s last rites be conducted at a location where a memorial could be established. Kharge raised the request after discussing the matter with Modi, emphasising the importance of creating a fitting tribute to Singh.
The Union Home Ministry confirmed the development in a late-night statement titled "facts of the Matter Regarding Memorial for Former Prime Minister Late Dr Manmohan Singh". According to the ministry, the government received a formal request for a memorial site from Kharge, which was swiftly addressed.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reportedly informed Kharge and Singh’s family, immediately after a Cabinet meeting, that space would be allocated for the memorial. However, the ministry clarified that forming a trust and allocating land for the memorial would take time. In the interim, Singh’s cremation and other formalities can proceed as planned.
In his letter, Kharge said, "Following our telephonic conversation this morning, I have requested that Dr Manmohan Singh's last rites, scheduled for 28th December 2024, be held at a site that would serve as a sacred venue for a memorial to this great son of India."
The Congress on Friday said that not finding a location for the cremation and memorial for Singh is a deliberate insult to the country's first Sikh prime minister.
The Congress raised the issue after the Union home ministry said in a statement that Singh's last rites will be held at New Delhi's Nigambodh Ghat at 11.45 am on Saturday with full state honours.
Singh, who headed the Congress-led UPA government and is credited with economic reforms, passed away on Thursday at 92.
He was India's prime minister for 10 years between 2004 and 2014.
