'Unfortunate,' says Congress as Centre turns down request for memorial spot for former PM

New Delhi: "Upset and pained" over not being allocated a location where Manmohan Singh's memorial could be erected after cremation, Congress on Friday called the government decision an insult to the "first Sikh Prime Minister of India".

Sources said Singh's family, including his wife Gursharan Singh, also shared the view that the cremation should be held at a place where the memorial could come up.

Amid the government rejecting the demand, sources also said, top Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were also learnt to have suggested that authorities could carve out some space from Indira Gandhi’s memorial ‘Shakti Sthal’ to tide over space constraints highlighted by them.

Earlier in the day, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over phone with the demand but there was no positive response. He also wrote to Modi later.

Incidentally, it was the UPA government that had decided to have a common memorial ground – Rashtriya Smriti Sthal – near Raj Ghat due to paucity of space.

The demand for a separate memorial for Singh comes at a time Congress faces accusations that it ignores leaders outside Gandhi family and critics cite how the body of former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao was not allowed to be kept in Congress HQ.

Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal said people who admire Singh and know his contributions would be pained with the government decision. He said Shah had told Kharge that they could discuss a possible location after 3-4 days.

"We expected a better response from the government. We had a discussion with the family earlier in the day. They were also of view that a memorial should come up at the venue of cremation," he said.

Congress General Secretary (Communication) Jairam Ramesh said people are simply unable to understand why the Government of India could not find a location for his cremation and memorial that is befitting of his global stature, record of outstanding achievements, and exemplary service to the nation for decades.

“This is nothing but a deliberate insult to the first Sikh Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh,” he said.

Punjab Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa urged Modi to honour “one of the most towering Sikhs of modern times” with a memorial befitting his immense contributions” to the country.

He said Punjabis across faiths and political lines unite in their “heartfelt plea to recognise this son of Punjab, who played an instrumental role in shaping India’s destiny, with the respect he deserves”.

"His cremation should take place at a location designated for the construction of his memorial ensuring his legacy is honoured for generations to come," he added.