Government releases factsheet regarding memorial for former PM late Dr Manmohan Singh

NEW DELHI: The Union government has decided to allocate space for a memorial for former Prime Minister late Dr Manmohan Singh, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Friday.

According to the MHA, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, immediately after the Cabinet meeting, communicated to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge that the government will allocate space for the memorial. “On Friday morning, the government received a request to allocate space for a memorial for former Prime Minister Late Dr Manmohan Singh, from the Congress Party President”, the MHA statement read.

“Immediately after the Cabinet meeting, Home Minister Amit Shah communicated to Congress president 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”, it added.

Earlier on Friday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over the phone and requested to have the funeral of Dr Manmohan Singh at a place where his memorial can be built, according to a post by the Indian National Congress on X.

आज कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष श्री @kharge ने प्रधानमंत्री जी और गृह मंत्री से फ़ोन पर बात करके व एक पत्र लिख कर भारतीय राष्ट्रीय कांग्रेस की ओर से पुरज़ोर अनुरोध किया कि भारत के सपूत सरदार मनमोहन सिंह जी का अंतिम संस्कार व स्मारक स्थापित करना ही उनको सच्ची श्रद्धांजलि होगी। pic.twitter.com/pNxh5txf0b

— Congress (@INCIndia) December 27, 2024

“I am writing this in the context of the sad demise of Dr Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India. Apropos our telephonic conversation this morning, wherein I requested to hold Dr Manmohan Singh’s last rites, which will take place on 28th December 2024, at his final resting place that would be a sacrosanct venue for the memorial of the great son of India. This is in keeping with such tradition of having memorials of statesmen and former Prime Ministers at the very place of their funerals”, Kharge wrote in his letter.

The Congress president emphasized that Dr Manmohan Singh holds a highly revered place in the psyche of the country and the people of this nation. “While his contributions and achievements are phenomenal, I would like to dwell here on some of his very significant accomplishments. His erudition on economic and fiscal matters comes from his vast experience as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India and various other capacities in several organizations”, Kharge said.

“The respect and regard that the world leaders had for Dr Manmohan Singh bears testimony to this fact. His wise counsel, leadership and contribution in mitigating the global economic financial crisis is well acknowledged. As I recall, President Obama during his tenure as President of the US mentioned Dr Singh and remarked that “Whenever the Indian Prime Minister speaks, the whole world listens to him”, he added.

Kharge recalled Dr Singh’s role as Finance Minister during a grave economic crisis in India, saying “It was Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister, who took India out of the crisis and also led the country towards economic prosperity and stability. The nation today reaps the benefits of the robust economic foundations he built.”Kharge further said that a memorial would be a fitting tribute to a leader who rose from humble beginnings to become a statesman of immense stature.

“In view of the foregoing, I hope and trust that befitting the stature of Dr Manmohan Singh, the above request to have the funeral of Dr Manmohan Singh at a place where his memorial can be built will be acceded to,” Kharge concluded.

The last rites of Dr Manmohan Singh are to be performed at Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi on Saturday afternoon. “Dr Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister passed away at 9.51 pm on December 26, 2024 at AllMS Hospital, New Delhi. It has been decided by the Government that State funeral will be accorded to Dr Manmohan Singh. The funeral will take place at 11.45 am on December 28, 2024 at Nigambodh Ghat, New Delhi. The Ministry of Defence is requested to make arrangements for State funeral will full military honours”, the MHA stated.

Dr Manmohan Singh passed away at AIIMS, Delhi, on Thursday at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions. He had a sudden loss of consciousness at home after which he was rushed to the hospital. Dr Singh’s political career spanned several decades, with notable positions including Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996, during which he spearheaded economic reforms that transformed India’s economy.

He served as the 13th Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014, succeeding Atal Bihari Vajpayee. His tenure is particularly remembered for his steady leadership during economic crises and his contributions to modernizing India’s economy. After his second term, Dr Singh retired from public life, having led India through a period of unprecedented growth and international recognition. He was succeeded by Narendra Modi in 2014 after the Congress-led UPA lost the general elections. (ANI)