DNA TV Show: Tug of war between ruling party, opposition over Dr Manmohan Singh’s cremation at Delhi’s Nigam Bodh

Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh (Image/X)

The final rites of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was held with full state honours at Delhi’s Nigam Bodh Ghat today, i.e., December 28. The military saluted the former PM, who had drawn the blueprint of India’s liberal economic policies at the time when the country was on the verge of bankruptcy. 

Political leaders from across the partyline reached Nigam Bodh Ghat to pay their tribute to Dr Manmohan Singh. Among the attendees were Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi among others. 

After Dr Singh’s demise, there has erupted a political tug of war between the ruling party and the opposition. The Congress demanded a designated spot to build a memorial in the name of Dr Manmohan Singh, who had earned respect of all leaders beyond political spectrum. 

On this issue, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to the centre and said that “not procuring a designated spot for Dr Manmohan Singh was an insult to him”. However, the centre clarified that a trust would be formed after which a place will be allotted for the former PM’s memorial. 

The Congress is, meanwhile, accusing the centre of “insulting the first Sikh Prime Minister”. The BJP, on the other hand, has alleged that “the Congress failed to accord him respect in his lifetime, and is engaging in politics after his death”. 

Although the centre has announced that a memorial will be built in Dr Manmohan Singh’s name, the Congress is accusing the Modi government of “insulting” him. 

The BJP is also questioning the Congress over the way “it behaved with former Prime Minister Narsimha Rao, post his death. Moreover, Congress leader and former President Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter, Sharmistha Mukerjee, has alleged that the Congress “did not even bother to hold a condolence meeting after her father’s demise.”

“When baba passed away, Congress didnt even bother 2 call CWC 4 condolence meeting. A senior leader told me it’s not done 4 Presidents. Thats utter rubbish as I learned later from baba’s diaries that on KR Narayanan’s death, CWC was called & condolence msg was drafted by baba only”, she wrote in a post on ‘X’. 

Meanwhile, the BJP has also attacked the Congress party, alleging that former PM Narsimha Rao’s dead body was not allowed into the party’s headquaters, citing his family members’ wish. The ruling party also claimed that the previous UPA government had not fulfilled its promise to build a memorial in Rao’s name during its ten years of regime.