Dr Manmohan Singh's Funeral: Final Rites Underway
New Delhi: The funeral march is underway in the national capital for the final journey of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. The mortal remains of Dr. Singh have been taken to Nigam Bodh Ghat, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi joined the convoy carrying the mortal remains of the former prime minister.
The mortal remains were carried in a flower-bedecked vehicle to the Congress headquarter, The final rites of Dr Singh have been conducted with full state honours, and mortal remain has been laid to rest at the Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi.
VIDEO | Delhi: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) joins the convoy carrying the mortal remains of former PM Manmohan Singh to Nigambodh Ghat for the last rites.#ManmohanSingh pic.twitter.com/4SKfGYRIRj
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 28, 2024
Dr Manmohan Singh’s wife, Gursharan Kaur, and daughter, Daman Singh, paid their last respects to the former Prime Minister at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters, where several politicians, including Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, also paid their respects.
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After Congress Party has criticised the government for allegedly disrespecting the former Prime Minister by initially denying a request to hold his funeral at a location where a memorial could be constructed, the government has agreed to memorial for Dr Singh.
The Home Ministry had clarified that space for a memorial would be allocated later, as the process required forming a trust and finalising the site. A statement from the ministry read: “Immediately after the Cabinet meeting, Home Minister Amit Shah communicated to Congress President Shri Kharge and the family of Late Dr Manmohan Singh that the government will allocate space for the memorial. In the meanwhile, cremation and other formalities can happen because a trust has to be formed and space has to be allocated to it.”
Some of the opposition leaders have expressed shock over government response, noting that it was condemnable in the extreme that Union Govt has declined the request for a memorial at a place like Raj Ghat. The government had earlier confirmed that Singh would receive a state funeral with full military honours at Nigambodh Ghat.
