Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma honored former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a remarkable leader. However, he strongly criticized the Congress party for allegedly politicizing the events following Singh’s death.
Sarma’s Remarks on Congress
Sarma directly accused Congress of using the funeral for political purposes. He stated, “Dr. Manmohan Singh was a great leader; he served our country a lot. The politics that Congress has done on the last journey shows their very bad mentality. The same Congress party insulted Pranab Mukherjee ji. When Manmohan Singh ji was the Prime Minister, Rahul Gandhi insulted him, and that is in the public domain.”
Moreover, he added, “Congress party has no issue… Congress has started politics in this too…”
Sarma’s Visit to Haridwar
On Sunday, Sarma visited the Narayani Shila Temple in Haridwar. There, he offered prayers and took the opportunity to comment on the political controversy surrounding Singh’s cremation.
Government Steps in for Memorial Plans
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Singh’s family about the government’s intentions to allocate land for a memorial. Shah explained that the cremation and formalities needed to proceed first. Subsequently, the government would finalize a site and establish a trust for the memorial.
Singh Receives State Funeral
Manmohan Singh was given a state funeral with full military honors on Saturday. The ceremony took place at Nigam Bodh Ghat in North Delhi. However, Congress demanded that the cremation be conducted at a site where a permanent memorial could be established.
Furthermore, Congress President Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting a prominent location for the cremation. In response, the government assured that land for a memorial would be allocated in the coming days.
Singh’s Passing and Legacy
Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday night at the age of 92. He lost consciousness at home and was rushed to AIIMS, Delhi, where he was pronounced dead.
Overall, while political tensions have arisen over Singh’s memorial, his contributions as a leader and economist remain deeply respected. His legacy continues to inspire the nation.