Congress expressed that the lack of a suitable venue for Manmohan Singh's funeral and memorial is an intentional affront to India's first Sikh Prime Minister. The issue was raised after the Home Ministry announced that Manmohan Singh's funeral would be conducted with full state honors at Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi on Saturday at 11:45 AM.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh mentioned that Party President Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a letter to Prime Minister Modi, requesting that Manmohan Singh's funeral be held at a location where his legacy can be honored with a monument.
In a post on X, Jairam Ramesh voiced public confusion over why the Indian government could not find a venue for the funeral and memorial that befits Singh's global stature, remarkable achievements, and decades of exemplary service to the nation. He described it as a deliberate insult to India's first Sikh Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh.
According to PTI, Mallikarjun Kharge wrote the letter to Prime Minister Modi after discussions about establishing a memorial for Manmohan Singh. Kharge, in his two-page letter, mentioned that it is customary to erect memorials at the funerary sites of politicians and former Prime Ministers.
The Congress leader emphasized that Dr. Manmohan Singh holds a highly revered place in the hearts of the nation's people, with unparalleled contributions and achievements. Kharge highlighted that during a severe economic crisis, Dr. Singh, alongside former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, guided India out of turmoil, steering it towards economic stability and prosperity.
