(From L to R) Congress leader Danish Ali; Former President Pranab Mukherjee
Credit: PTI Images
Congress leader Danish Ali on Wednesday accused the Narendra Modi government of indulging in "low level politics" and termed Centre’s decision to earmark a site for a memorial of former President Pranab Mukherjee as a "grave insult" to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"The Modi government has indulged in dirty politics over death and has rejected the demand of the entire nation for space for Manmohan Singh at Rajghat memorial site and has given land at the same place for Pranab Mukherjee's memorial. This is low level politics and a grave insult to the Prime Minister who brought economic revolution in the country," Ali said in a post on X.
The former Lok Sabha MP also drew a parallel between Mukherjee and his alleged affinity to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and alleged that Centre's decision was "a gift" to Pranab Mukherjee "for his love for the Sangh".
In 2018, Mukherjee visited the RSS headquarters and addressed the closing ceremony of the 'Tritiya Varsha Sangh Shiksha Varg'.
"This decision of the government is also a gift to Pranab Mukherjee for his love for the Sangh. Pranab Mukherjee had bowed his head at the Nagpur headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and conferred the title of Dhartiputra on Sangh founder Hedgewar. Mukherjee had also played an important role in getting Savarkar's picture installed in the Parliament House," he added.
On Tuesday, the Modi government informed the family of former President, who passed away on 31 August, 2020, that Mukherjee will get a memorial at the 'Rashtriya Smriti' complex here soon
"The Competent Authority has approved the earmarking of a designated site within the 'Rashtriya Smriti' complex (a part of the Rajghat precinct) for erecting a Samadhi of Late Shri Pranab Mukherjee, former President of India," the government said in letter to Sharmistha Mukherjee, the daughter of the former president.
Sharmistha Mukherjee thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking the decision to erect a memorial for her father.
The Modi government had earlier honoured Mukherjee with Bharat Ratna in 2019.