International Desk: Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s last rites were performed at Delhi’s Nigam Bodh Ghat. His last rites were performed with state honors at around 12:45 pm local time today, Saturday. Manmohan Singh’s body was taken to Nigam Bodh Ghat from the Congress headquarters in the morning.
Indian media NDTV reported that President Draupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi were present to pay their last respects. There was tight security on the streets of Delhi for the last rites.
The BJP government has declared a seven-day state mourning to honor Manmohan Singh. During this time, the national flag will be flown at half-mast across India. The Congress has announced that all the party’s official programs, including the party’s foundation day celebrations, will be cancelled for the next seven days.
The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress on Friday clashed over the allotment of land for Manmohan Singh’s memorial. The Congress has condemned the allocation of Nigam Bodh Ghat for the funeral ceremony instead of a place where a memorial could be built in honor of its party’s former Prime Minister.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, demanding the construction of a memorial for Manmohan Singh at Nigam Bodh Ghat. The Congress President said in a statement yesterday, “During a telephonic conversation with Modiji this morning, I requested the construction of a memorial at the site where Dr. Manmohan Singh was cremated.”
BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan criticized the Congress’ move. He termed the opposition’s behavior as ‘ironical.’. Kesavan said, “It is truly ironic that the Congress President has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modiji to make a place of tradition and funeral as a memorial. Kharge ji should be reminded that the Congress-led UPA government did not build a memorial for the former Prime Minister in Delhi. Prime Minister Narasimha Rao ji, who died in 2004.”
On Saturday, the ruling BJP clarified, “The government will form a trust for the memorial of Manmohan Singh and allocate a place. The Congress President and Manmohan Singh’s family have been informed about this.”
Manmohan Singh died on Thursday (December 26) night at the age of 92 due to age-related medical complications. His health had been deteriorating for the last few months. Known as the ‘architect of India’s economic reforms,’ Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister of the Congress-led UPA government for two terms from 2004 to 2014.
French President Emmanuel Macron, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Bangladesh’s interim government’s chief advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus, and many world leaders have expressed grief over the death of Dr. Singh.
