Following a controversy over a memorial for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Union government on the night of Friday, December 28 said that it will allocate space for the memorial after cremation and other formalities.
The statement comes after Congress said that not finding a location for the cremation and memorial of Manmohan Singh was a deliberate insult to the country's first Sikh Prime Minister. All India Congress Committee President (AICC) chief Mallikarjun Kharge had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting a separate memorial for Dr Manmohan Singh. Kharge suggested that Manmohan Singh’s memorial should be built at the site where his last rites would be conducted.
According to reports, MP Priyanka Gandhi had proposed that a portion of either Veer Bhumi or Shakti Sthal be allocated during the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting. However, the Union Home Ministry designated Nigambodh Ghat for last rites to take place.
In a late-night release titled "Facts of the matter regarding a memorial for Former Prime Minister Late Dr Manmohan Singh," the Ministry said the government received a request from the Congress Chief to allocate space for a memorial for Manmohan Singh.
The union government said that immediately after the Cabinet meeting, Union Home Minister Amit Shah communicated to Kharge and the family of Dr Manmohan Singh that the government would allocate space for the memorial. The MHA said that cremation and other formalities can go ahead since a Trust has to be formed for the space allocation.
Manmohan Singh, who headed the Congress-led UPA government and is credited with economic reforms, passed away on Thursday at the age of 92. He was India's Prime Minister for 10 years between 2004 and 2014.
(With inputs from IANS)