Writer and former Congress leader Sharmistha Mukherjee expressed disappointment over the Congress party’s failure to convene a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting to formally pay condolences to her father, former President Pranab Mukherjee, upon his demise.
“When Baba died, I was in active politics and part of the Congress. I was shocked that no formal CWC was called and no condolence resolution was passed,” Sharmistha Mukherjee told media on Saturday.
Mukherjee emphasized that her father, a stalwart Congress leader for 45 years and a CWC member for 30 years, deserved institutional acknowledgment. She pointed out the precedent set when former President K.R. Narayanan passed away, as her father had drafted a condolence resolution for him at a CWC meeting.
Call for a Memorial for Dr. Manmohan Singh
Sharmistha Mukherjee also urged the central government to create a memorial for former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who passed away on Thursday.
“My father always said Dr. Singh was a true gentleman. His contributions were immense, and he deserves a Bharat Ratna. I request the government to build a memorial in his name,” she said.
Mukherjee stressed that such a memorial would honor Singh’s legacy and avoid unnecessary political controversies, noting a general tradition of creating memorials for former prime ministers.
Criticism of Congress on Memorials
BJP leader NV Subhash, grandson of former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, accused the Congress of hypocrisy and disrespecting its own leaders.
“Congress disrespected Narasimha Rao after his demise by moving his remains to Hyderabad and failing to honor him adequately in Delhi. This reflects the Congress party’s dynastic approach and their disregard for deserving leaders,” Subhash said.
Congress-Centre Memorial Dispute
The Congress had earlier demanded that Dr. Manmohan Singh’s funeral take place at a location suitable for a memorial. The Centre, however, clarified that while land for a memorial would be allocated, it would not be at the cremation site.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized the government’s decision, calling it a “deliberate insult” to India’s first Sikh Prime Minister.
“Dr. Manmohan Singh’s stature and legacy demand a befitting location for his cremation and memorial. This refusal reflects poorly on the Government of India,” Ramesh wrote.
State Funeral for Dr. Manmohan Singh
Dr. Manmohan Singh was accorded a state funeral with full military honors at Nigam Bodh Ghat in north Delhi on Saturday. While his funeral marked a moment of national mourning, the ongoing debate around his memorial continues to draw attention.
This development highlights a broader conversation about respecting the legacies of India’s former leaders across political lines.