Chandigarh, 29 December
Senior Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday wrote to President Draupadi Murmu urging the Center to direct the Center to construct a memorial to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the Raj Ghat complex.
Navjot Sidhu wrote this letter a day after the Congress accused the Center of insulting the country’s first Sikh Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by holding his last rites at Nigambodh Ghat.
My letter to the Hon’ble President of India: A call to protect India’s glorious democratic tradition and honor the towering legacy of Dr. Manmohan Singh. Our former PMs have been memorialized—why should he be denied his rightful place?
This is not just about a memorial; it’s… pic.twitter.com/yuEs9GMFlc
— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) December 29, 2024
The opposition party Dr. A letter was written to the Center to identify the place designated for Manmohan Singh’s last rites so that his memorial can be built there. The Center responded by saying that the decision to set up a memorial had already been taken and a trust would soon be formed to identify the site.
In a letter shared on X, Navjot Sidhu wrote, “It is not just about a memorial but it is about upholding historical norms and the dignity of our democracy. In a letter to President Draupadi Murmu, he wrote, “I appeal to your honorable office to intervene and direct the government to ensure that the Raj Ghat complex On Dr. A memorial to Manmohan Singh should be established so that the pride of this tradition is maintained.”
Navjot Sidhu wrote, “I call you the 13th Prime Minister of India Dr. I am writing with deep concern and deep conviction about the need to set up a memorial to Manmohan Singh at the Raj Ghat complex, which symbolizes the noble tradition of remembering our nation’s heritage. As you know, a memorial has been set up for all former Prime Ministers, including (caretaker) Prime Ministers like Gulzarilal Nanda, in honor of their contribution.”
He wrote, “These include Shanti Van for Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Vijay Ghat for Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri, Shakti Sthal for Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Vir Bhoomi for Rajiv Gandhi and Sadayav Atal for Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee.”
Sidhu wrote in his letter that the memorials of all these leaders were installed at the Raj Ghat complex, but now, breaking the tradition, Dr. Manmohan Singh was cremated at Nigambodh Ghat, where no prime minister has ever been cremated and no steps taken to commemorate his glorious legacy.
Sidhu alleged, “It is alarming to mention that insecurity and political bias appear to be the main reasons behind the departure from tradition.” Sidhu said that honoring leaders with memorials is an integral part of India’s democratic values. Ang has been, beyond political differences. -News-Patiala
