The last rites of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh undertook on Saturday at Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi, with full state honours. The solemn ceremony was attended by top political leaders and foreign leaders, reflecting the moving respect Dr. Singh commanded both in India and abroad.
The ceremony saw the presence of President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with key figures like Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, along with the three services chiefs, also paid their final respects to the late Prime Minister.
Among the foreign dignitaries, the King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful joined in paying their tributes to Singh. The final rites included the 21-gun salute, a mark of the full state honours accorded to Dr. Singh for his outstanding service to the nation.
Earlier, Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s mortal remains were transported to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters Saturday morning, where party leaders and dignitaries rounded up to pay their last respects. The procession began just before 9 am from his residence at 3, Motilal Nehru Road, with a large number of Congress leaders attending the tribute ceremony.
Among the prominent personalities who appeared at the AICC headquarters were Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and several others, including Pawan Khera, Jairam Ramesh, Gaurav Gogoi, Dr. Veerappa Moily, and MP P. Chidambaram and Manish Tiwari.
At the AICC headquarters, Dr. Singh’s wife, Gursharan Kaur, and one of his daughters laid a wreath on the former Prime Minister’s body before it was taken in a flower-bedecked vehicle for public viewing.
Several state leaders, including Congress MP KC Venugopal, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, and CMs Ashok Gehlot, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, and Revanth Reddy, were also seen paying their homage.
The body was then transported to Nigambodh Ghat for the final rites, which are set to take place at 11:45 am with full state honors. The procession moved through Delhi with slogans of “Manmohan Singh Amar Rahe,” reflecting the deep respect the former leader commanded across the nation.
Delhi traffic police issued an advisory, outlining diversions and restrictions in the areas around the funeral procession.
The funeral preparations at Nigambodh Ghat were completed with final touches, as Union Health Minister and BJP President JP Nadda, along with other political leaders, made their way to attend the ceremony.
Dr. Singh’s passing has sparked an outpouring of tributes from national and international leaders alike. U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his condolences, emphasizing Singh’s critical role in the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement and his “unparalleled level of cooperation” with the United States.
The White House declaration, signed by Biden and his wife Jill, expressed deep sorrow and extended condolences to the Singh family and the people of India.
In the middle of these tributes, controversy has surfaced regarding the allocation of space for a memorial to Dr. Singh. The Congress party has requested that a memorial be built in his honor, a tradition that had been discontinued by the UPA government in 2013.
Congress leaders, including Jairam Ramesh and Navjot Singh Sidhu, have voiced concerns about the government’s reluctance to allocate a suitable memorial space for the late Prime Minister.
Navjot Singh Sidhu stated that when a person passes away, all enmity should end, but politics is still being played. He remarked how people would feel if Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s memorial was proposed to be built elsewhere instead of at Raj Ghat, emphasizing that the issue concerns the country’s history, not party politics.
Ramesh described the government’s stance as a “deliberate insult” to Singh, the first Sikh Prime Minister of India. RJD leader Lalu Yadav also joined the calls, stating that Dr. Singh’s contributions to the country warranted such a memorial.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh showcased the disappointment over the government’s refusal to allow former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s last rites to be held at Rajghat.
He criticized the government’s actions as indicative of an “obnoxious” mindset and highlighted the disrespect to the Sikh community, as no former PM’s last rites have ever been performed at Nigambodh Ghat. Singh also pointed out the paradox of a party claiming to be the most cultured while denying Singh a dignified resting place.
The government, after receiving a request from Congress, has assured that space will be allocated for the memorial, but some political observers have noted that the request reflects deeper tensions within the Congress and between the party and the government.
Despite the political debate, Dr. Singh’s legacy as one of India’s most respected Prime Ministers remains undisputed. His leadership during a critical period in Indian politics and his role in transforming India’s economy are remembered with great admiration. As the country bids farewell to the former Prime Minister, his impact on both India and the world continues to resonate.
In an expression of respect from abroad, Singapore lowered its national flag to half-mast in honor of Dr. Manmohan Singh. The late Prime Minister’s funeral marks the conclusion of an era in Indian politics, but his legacy will endure in the history of the nation.
