Govt to allocate memorial space for Dr. Manmohan Singh

Tributes and condolences have poured in from across the globe, reflecting Singh’s impact as a statesman and architect of modern India.

The Union government has decided to allocate space for a memorial in honor of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 92. The decision was conveyed to Singh’s family and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the Union Home Ministry announced late on December 28.

In a statement titled “Facts of the Matter Regarding Memorial for Former Prime Minister Late Dr. Manmohan Singh,” the ministry clarified that the request for a memorial was made by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. Following a Cabinet meeting, Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured Kharge and Singh’s family that space would be allocated for the memorial.

The ministry added that while the cremation and related formalities would proceed at Delhi's Nigambodh Ghat, establishing a memorial would require the formation of a trust and allocation of the designated space. Singh’s cremation will take place with full state honours at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday.

Singh, a two-term prime minister who led the Congress-led UPA government from 2004 to 2014, is widely credited with ushering in transformative economic reforms during his tenure.

Meanwhile, the Congress party criticized the government for what it termed a “deliberate insult” to the country’s first Sikh prime minister, alleging that no suitable location was identified for Singh’s cremation and memorial. The party raised concerns about the delay, calling it disrespectful to Singh’s legacy.

Tributes and condolences have poured in from across the globe, reflecting Singh’s impact as a statesman and architect of modern India.