In a strong condemnation of the Centre’s handling of the last rites of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned the decision to cremate him at the public crematorium at Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi. Khera, speaking to ANI on Monday, accused the government of disrespecting the former PM and the Sikh community.
“Name one former prime minister who was cremated at Nigambodh Ghat. Is this kind of behaviour against the Sikh community, against former PM Manmohan Singh, or against the Congress? We don’t know,” Khera said, expressing his outrage over the arrangements for Singh’s final journey.
The remarks came amid a war of words between BJP and Congress leaders over the choice of the cremation site. The controversy deepened when Congress MP Manickam Tagore also voiced his displeasure, alleging that Singh’s final rites were held at a “common and congested location,” in stark contrast to the dignified arrangements made for other former leaders.
Tagore pointed to the special arrangements made for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee when he passed away, noting that a designated cremation spot was provided, and a memorial was later built at the site. “It’s a very sad thing that the government has stooped to this level. When former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away, this government provided a place for cremation, and that same place was made a memorial. All the prime ministers have received similar honour. It is deeply painful to see that the final journey of Manmohan Singh was taken to a very common and even congested place. There was no place for the foreign dignitaries and Dr. Singh’s family,” Tagore told ANI.
The war of words between the two political parties highlights the deep divide over the treatment of leaders, with Congress leaders accusing the BJP-led government of neglecting Singh’s legacy. As the controversy continues to unfold, the government has yet to respond to the criticisms surrounding the arrangements for the former Prime Minister’s final rites.
Manmohan Singh, known for his role in shaping India’s economic reforms, passed away earlier this week, leaving behind a legacy that has deeply impacted both the political and economic landscape of the country.
