Leaders across party lines exchanged barbs over alleged disrespect and mismanagement at the late Prime Minister’s funeral.
Published Dec 29, 2024 | 3:03 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 29, 2024 | 3:49 PM
The mortal remains of Dr Manmohan Singh being taken from the Congress headquarters to Nigambodh Ghat (X/INCIndia).
As the nation mourns the passing of noted economist and former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh on 26 December, a fresh controversy has erupted over an alleged insult to Dr Singh during his funeral rites.
The controversy centres around the BJP-led NDA government’s decision to cremate Dr Singh at Nigambodh Ghat rather than at a designated memorial site. Nigambodh Ghat, situated on the banks of the Yamuna, is one of Delhi’s oldest cremation grounds, but its use for the funeral of a former prime minister was seen by many as a break with tradition.
In the past, leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee were cremated at sites that later became public memorials. While the choice of site did not contravene any official norms or protocol, many Opposition leaders viewed it as a glaring affront to Dr Singh’s memory.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi sharply criticised the decision, stating on X: “Until now, respecting the dignity of all former Prime Ministers, their last rites were performed at authorised memorial sites so that every person could have the opportunity to pay homage without inconvenience.
“Dr Manmohan Singh deserves our highest respect and a memorial. The government should have shown respect to this great son of the country and his proud community.”
भारत माता के महान सपूत और सिख समुदाय के पहले प्रधानमंत्री डॉ मनमोहन सिंह जी का अंतिम संस्कार आज निगमबोध घाट पर करवाकर वर्तमान सरकार द्वारा उनका सरासर अपमान किया गया है।
एक दशक के लिए वह भारत के प्रधानमंत्री रहे, उनके दौर में देश आर्थिक महाशक्ति बना और उनकी नीतियां आज भी देश के…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 28, 2024
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed her brother’s concerns, asserting that the government had failed to honour both the “personality of Manmohan Singh” and the “self-respecting Sikh community.”
In a statement on X, she wrote: “Earlier, all former Prime Ministers were given the highest honour and respect. Dr Manmohan Singh Ji deserves this honour and a Samadhi Sthal.”
Meanwhile, the arrangements at the cremation site were also criticised, with Congress alleging “disrespect and mismanagement.”
Pawan Khera, Chairman of the Congress’s Media and Publicity Department, claimed on X that only three chairs were provided for Dr Singh’s family, forcing Congress leaders to scramble to organise additional seating.
“The family was not given enough space around the funeral pyre as soldiers had occupied one side,” he wrote, adding that Dr Singh’s grandsons had to “struggle for space” to perform the last rites.
Similarly, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who attended the funeral, said it was difficult to see much of the proceedings.
In a post on X, he said: “It was difficult to see much of the proceedings, beyond the backs of the heads of assorted dignitaries and close relatives of the departed soul, so it became more of an occasion to reflect on the life and legacy of the late great PM.”
Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal, expressed shock and questioned why the BJP government could not provide “even 1,000 yards of land” for a proper burial site and memorial.
“I am shocked to hear this news. The last rites of former Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh were performed at Nigambodh Ghat. Before this, the last rites of all the Prime Ministers of India were performed at Raj Ghat,” he stated on X.
Similarly, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin called the decision to cremate Dr Singh at Nigambodh Ghat an “insult to his towering legacy and the Sikh community.”
On X, he wrote: “Refusing the family’s request and relegating a two-term Prime Minister to Nigambodh Ghat reeks of arrogance, bias, and a deliberate attempt to erase his immense contributions from public memory.”
The BJP government’s decision to deny Dr. #ManmohanSingh’s family the right to perform his last rites at a befitting site for his memorial is a direct insult to his towering legacy and the Sikh community. Refusing the family’s request and relegating a two-term Prime Minister to…
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) December 28, 2024
BJP leaders dismissed these criticisms as political opportunism. BJP President JP Nadda accused Congress of using the occasion to “further their political agenda.”
On X, he said: “When the entire nation mourns the demise of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh ji, the Congress party is busy turning this moment of grief into an opportunity to fulfill their political agenda.”
“Gandhi family has neither honored nor delivered justice to any leader of the nation, even if they were from the Congress party. The nation will never forget or forgive the historic sins of the principle-less Congress party.”
When the entire nation mourns the demise of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh ji, the Congress party is busy turning this moment of grief into an opportunity to fulfill their political agenda.
Gandhi family has neither honored nor delivered justice to any leader of the… pic.twitter.com/6U4GEsa2LV
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) December 28, 2024
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw went further, accusing Congress of hypocrisy and reducing Dr Singh to a “proxy PM” during his tenure.
In a series of posts on X, he wrote: “Congress’s hypocrisy stands exposed as they politicise Dr Manmohan Singh Ji’s last journey. Congress repeatedly sidelined him during his tenure as PM. Congress denied a proper memorial to former PM PV Narasimha Rao Ji, the architect of economic reforms. He was denied the last journey through AICC headquarters.
“Congress failed to honour former President Pranab Mukherjee Ji after his death. Congress even downplayed his Bharat Ratna. Dr Manmohan Singh Ji was reduced to a proxy PM… The ultimate insult came in 2013, when Rahul Gandhi publicly tore up an ordinance approved by the Cabinet chaired by Dr Singh as Prime Minister of India.”
Nadda also clarified that the government had agreed to allocate a site for Singh’s memorial, responding to a request by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. He explained:
“The cabinet has informed Dr Singh’s family and the Congress that a memorial will be built so that everyone can remember his positive contribution. However, time is needed for land acquisition, forming a trust, and other formalities. Cremation, meanwhile, could not wait,” he said.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
