Centre has declared a seven-day state mourning throughout the country...
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's last rites will be held with full state honours today at the Nigambodh Ghat, a public cremation ground in Delhi. Several politicians will attend the funeral later today.
Today, Dr. Manmohan Singh's last rites will be perform. The body of the former Prime Minister has been taken to the Congress headquarters in the national capital where leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi paid tribute. The Centre has declared a seven-day state mourning throughout the country as a mark of respect to Dr Singh. During this period, the national flag will be flown half-mast across India. The Congress has also declared that all official programs of the party, including the Foundation Day celebration, will be cancelled for the next seven days and will resume on January 3.
A row has erupted between the Centre and Congress over the allotment of space for Dr Singh's memorial. The Congress condemned the allocation of the Nigambodh Ghat for the final rituals instead of a location where a memorial could be built in his honour.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to consider establishing a memorial for Dr. Singh at the site of his final rites. In a letter written on Friday, Mr. Kharge stated, “Following our telephonic conversation this morning, I request that Dr. Manmohan Singh’s last rites, scheduled for tomorrow, 28th December 2024, be conducted at a location that could serve as a sacred venue for a memorial to honor this great son of India. This aligns with the tradition of commemorating statesmen and former prime ministers by establishing memorials at their funeral sites.”
Dr. Manmohan Singh, aged 92, passed away on Thursday night due to age-related health complications. He had been in fragile health for several months. Widely recognized as the 'architect of India's economic reforms,' Dr. Singh served as the Prime Minister for two consecutive terms under the Congress-led UPA government from 2004 to 2014.
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