In a late-night decision, the Central government agreed to allocate space for a memorial in honor of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, following a heated political exchange between the BJP and Congress. The controversy erupted when the Congress’s request to hold Singh’s cremation at a dedicated memorial site was initially denied. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized the decision, calling it a "deliberate insult to India's first Sikh Prime Minister."

The Union Home Ministry, in a statement titled “Facts of the matter regarding a memorial for former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh,” clarified that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had submitted a formal request for such a memorial. The statement, as reported by news agency PTI, emphasized that the government had agreed to the proposal after due deliberation but maintained that the cremation would take place at Nigambodh Ghat, a public crematorium in Delhi.

Political Dispute Over Memorial

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge reportedly spoke directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, requesting a resting place befitting Singh’s stature. Kharge’s appeal highlighted the tradition of honoring statesmen with dedicated memorials. Despite this, the initial decision to hold the cremation at Nigambodh Ghat sparked criticism from the Congress.

Jairam Ramesh led the charge, accusing the BJP of showing disrespect to Singh. "The people of our country are unable to understand why the government could not designate a site befitting Dr. Manmohan Singh's stature and contributions. This is a deliberate insult to India's first Sikh Prime Minister," he said on social media.

BJP Counters Accusations

The BJP responded sharply to the Congress’s allegations. Party spokesperson CR Kesavan pointed out that the Congress, during its own tenure, failed to build a memorial for former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi reiterated that the government had already decided to allocate space for Singh’s memorial, adding that the Congress was engaging in political posturing even after Singh’s death.

“Yesterday, the Cabinet decided to build a memorial and mausoleum for Dr. Manmohan Singh. This decision was conveyed to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The necessary steps, such as land acquisition and forming a trust, will be undertaken soon,” Trivedi said.

Internal Criticism Within Congress

The controversy also exposed internal tensions within the Congress party. Sharmistha Mukherjee, daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee, criticized the party for its lack of formal recognition of Singh’s passing. She pointed out that the Congress had not convened a Working Committee meeting to offer condolences.

“When my father passed away, the Congress did not bother to hold a condolence meeting, claiming it was not customary for Presidents. However, from his diaries, I later learned that the Congress held such a meeting after the passing of KR Narayanan,” she said.

Final Farewell

Manmohan Singh’s final journey will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday from the Congress headquarters, with his cremation scheduled for 11:45 a.m. at Nigambodh Ghat. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi were among those who visited Singh’s residence to pay their respects on Friday.

Manmohan Singh, who served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, is remembered as a visionary economist and the architect of India’s economic liberalization. His legacy continues to shape India’s development and remains a source of national pride.