India Mourns: Former PM Manmohan Singh's Funeral Today Amid Memorial Controversy and Global Tributes
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Dr. Manmohan Singh, hailed as the 'architect of India's economic reforms,' served as Prime Minister for two consecutive terms during the Congress-led UPA government from 2004 to 2014. The last rites of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will take place today with full state honours at Nigambodh Ghat, a public cremation ground in Delhi. Several prominent leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are expected to attend the funeral.
Key updates on Dr. Manmohan Singh's funeral:
>The cremation ceremony is scheduled for 11:45 am today (Saturday). The body of the former Prime Minister has been moved to the Congress headquarters in Delhi for tributes.
>The central government has declared a seven-day national mourning in Dr. Singh’s honour. During this period, the national flag will be flown at half-mast across the country.
>The Congress party has announced the suspension of all official programs, including the Foundation Day celebration, until January 3, 2025, as a mark of respect.
>A controversy has arisen between the central government and the Congress over the location for Dr. Singh’s memorial. The Congress has criticized the decision to conduct the last rites at Nigambodh Ghat instead of designating a space for a memorial to honour his legacy.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge reportedly discussed the matter with Prime Minister Modi, urging the creation of a memorial at the same site as the funeral. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Kharge stated, "I request that Dr. Manmohan Singh's last rites, scheduled for December 28, 2024, be held at a location that could also serve as a memorial for the great son of India, in keeping with traditions for statesmen and former Prime Ministers."
However, BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan criticized the Congress for its stance, calling it "ironic." He noted that the Congress-led UPA government did not establish a memorial in Delhi for former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao after his death in 2004. The central government clarified that a memorial space will be allocated for Dr. Singh, which has been communicated to both Kharge and Dr. Singh's family. It added that the cremation can proceed as planned, as the establishment of a memorial involves the creation of a trust and the formal allocation of land. Sharmistha Mukherjee, daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee, also criticized Kharge's demand for a memorial. She pointed out that when her father passed away in August 2020, the Congress leadership failed to organize a condolence meeting through the Congress Working Committee (CWC). She recalled being told by a senior Congress leader that memorials are not traditionally held for Indian Presidents.
Dr. Manmohan Singh passed away at the age of 92 on Thursday night due to age-related medical complications. He had been in declining health for several months. Born in 1932, Dr. Singh studied at the University of Cambridge, where he earned a First Class Honours degree in Economics in 1957. He later obtained a degree in Economics from Nuffield College at Oxford University. A Rajya Sabha member since 1991, he served as the Leader of the Opposition from 1998 to 2004. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour, in 1987. World leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, have extended their condolences on the passing of Dr. Singh.
