New Delhi [India], December 27 (ANI): Describing former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "great son of India," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday urged PM Narendra Modi to conduct the last rites of former Finance Minister at a place where a memorial can be built.
"I am writing this in the context of the sad demise of Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India. Apropos our telephonic conversation this morning, wherein I requested to hold Dr Manmohan Singh's last rites, which will take place tomorrow i.e. 28th December 2024, at his final resting place that would be a sacrosanct venue for the memorial of the great son of India. This is in keeping with such tradition of having memorials of statesmen and former Prime Ministers at the very place of their funerals," Kharge said.
The Congress chief said that Manmohan Singh holds a highly revered place in the psyche of the country and the people of this nation.
"While his contributions and achievements are phenomenal, I would like to dwell here on some of his very significant accomplishments. His erudition on economic and fiscal matters comes from his vast experience as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India and various other capacities in several organizations," he said.
"The respect and regard that the world leaders had for Dr Manmohan Singh bears testimony to this fact. His wise counsel, leadership and contribution in mitigating the global economic financial crisis is well acknowledged. As I recall, President Obama during his tenure as President of the US mentioned Dr. Singh and remarked that "Whenever the Indian Prime Minister speaks, the whole world listens to him," he added.
Kharge said that when the nation was in the throes of grave economic crisis, it was Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister, who took India out of the crisis and also led the country towards economic prosperity and stability.
"The nation today reaps the benefits of the robust economic foundations built by them," he added.
Requesting PM Modi, Kharge said, "Coming from a humble background and having experienced the pains and sufferings of the partition, it is through his sheer grit and determination that he rose to become one of the leading statesmen of the world.
Kharge said that a memorial would be a fitting tribute to a leader who rose from humble beginnings to become a statesman of immense stature.
"In view of the foregoing, I hope and trust that befitting the stature of Dr Manmohan Singh, the above request to have the funeral of Dr Manmohan Singh at a place where his memorial can be built, will be acceded," he added.
The last rites of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are to be performed at the Nigambodh Ghat in the national capital on Saturday afternoon.
"Dr Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister passed away at 9.51 PM on December 26, 2024 at AllMS Hospital, New Delhi. It has been decided by the Government that State funeral will be accorded to Dr Manmohan Singh. The funeral will take place at 11:45 AM on December 28, 2024 at Nigambodh Ghat, New Delhi. The Ministry of Defence is requested to make arrangements for State funeral will full military honours," the Ministry of Home Affairs stated.
Manmohan Singh was born on September 26, 1932. Apart from being an economist, Manmohan Singh served as Reserve Bank of India governor from 1982-1985. He was the 13th PM of India with his tenure from 2004-2014.
He spent five years between 1991 and 1996 as India's Finance Minister and his role in ushering in a comprehensive policy of economic reforms is recognized worldwide. In the popular view of those years in India, that period is inextricably associated with the persona of Singh.
He retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year after serving for 33 years. (ANI)