Manmohan Singh's Funeral On December 28: Congress Pushes For Separate Memorial Near Yamuna

Manmohan Singh's Funeral On December 28: The final rites of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be conducted on Saturday, December 28, with full state honors. His passing has left the nation in mourning, with leaders across the political spectrum paying their last respects.

Singh's funeral will take place at 9:30 am, with his mortal remains being taken from Congress headquarters at 24 Akbar Road to the cremation grounds.

Photo Credit: PTI

Manmohan Singh's Funeral On December 28: Congress Seeks Yamuna Banks For Memorial

In a significant gesture, the Congress party has demanded a separate memorial for Singh along the banks of the Yamuna River, near Raj Ghat, where several former Prime Ministers are memorialized. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has officially conveyed this request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while senior party leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K.C. Venugopal raised the issue with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, as reported by Deccan Herald.

The demand is particularly poignant, as the UPA government had decided on a common memorial ground Smriti Sthal due to limited space near Raj Ghat. This comes amid ongoing criticisms that the Congress Party often overlooks leaders outside the Gandhi family, with former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao's memorial also a subject of controversy, as per media reports.

State Mourning and Public Tributes

In honour of Singh's legacy, the government has declared seven days of state mourning, with national flags flying at half-mast until January 1. Additionally, a half-day holiday has been declared for all central government offices and PSUs on Saturday.

Singh's mortal remains were kept at his residence on Motilal Nehru Road before being taken to the Congress headquarters for public and party tributes. Many dignitaries, including President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and several top Congress leaders such as Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, visited Singh's residence to offer their respects.

Other political leaders, including BJP chief J.P. Nadda, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, Chief Ministers M.K. Stalin, N. Chandrababu Naidu, and others, also paid their tributes. Despite heavy rains, a large number of common citizens gathered to honour the former leader, demonstrating the widespread admiration Singh commanded.

Leaders Remembering Singh's Legacy

Prime Minister Modi described Singh's death as a "tremendous loss" for the nation. He praised Singh's life as a "lesson for future generations," highlighting his resilience and ability to rise above challenges. Modi also called him a "kind-hearted individual" and a "scholarly economist" dedicated to reforms.

Modi further recalled Singh's exceptional qualities as a parliamentarian, noting his humility and intellect. Despite his education at world-renowned institutions and numerous prestigious roles, Singh remained grounded and approachable to people across political lines.

The funeral will mark the end of an era for the country, as the nation bids farewell to a leader who significantly shaped India's economic and political landscape.