Pranab Mukherjee to get memorial at 'Rashtriya Smriti' complex, suspense remains over one for Manmohan Singh

It may be recalled that the Modi government had earlier honoured Mukherjee with Bharat Ratna in 2019.

New Delhi: Former President Pranab Mukherjee will get a memorial at the 'Rashtriya Smriti' complex here soon with the government informing his family about the decision even as suspense continued over one for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who died in December.

Sharmistha Mukherjee, the daughter of the former president who passed away on 31 August, 2020, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday to thank him for taking the decision to erect a memorial for her father. The Modi government had earlier honoured Mukherjee with Bharat Ratna in 2019.

"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 a letter on January 1 to Sharmistha.

After her meeting with the Prime Minister, Sharmistha posted on 'X', "called on PM Narendra Modi-ji to express thanks and gratitude from the core of my heart for his government's decision to create a memorial for baba. It's more cherished considering that we didn't ask for it. Immensely touched by this unexpected but truly gracious gesture by the PM."

She also said, "Baba used to say that State honours shouldn't be asked for, it should be offered. I'm so grateful that PM Modi did this to honour Baba's memory. It doesn't affect Baba where he is now -- beyond applause or criticism. But for his daughter, words are not sufficient to express my joy."

Sharmistha had attacked the Congress recently for not holding a meeting of its Working Committee to condole the death of her father citing that the party does not organise such a meeting for the country's president. However, she rebutted it claiming that the CWC had met when former President KR Narayanan had passed away.

Meanwhile, Congress sources said Singh's family have not received any intimation about a memorial. The Congress had attacked the government over not allowing Singh’s cremation at a place where a memorial could be erected and accused it of insulting Singh and the Sikh community.

The government had countered it saying it had informed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Singh’s family that a memorial would be built after forming a Trust so that land could be handed over to it at a later stage. It wanted the cremation to go ahead.

Reports had emerged that the government had identified two spaces near Ektha Sthal and Vijay Ghat to choose from for the memorial for Singh.