 "Will Manmohan Singh be laid to rest at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal?")
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh is set to have a state funeral tomorrow.
Singh, who passed away on Thursday night at Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at age 92, was the architect of India’s economic reforms.
He was at the helm of India as prime minister from 2004 to 2014.
The Indian government has declared seven days of State mourning till January 1 during which the national flag will be flown at half-mast across the country.
The national flag will also be flown at half-mast in all the Indian missions/high commissions till that date.
But what do we know about Singh’s funeral? And what about his final resting place?
Let’s take a closer look:
What do we know?
The funeral will take place tomorrow (Saturday, 28 December) morning.
Sources told News18 that the funeral did not take place today to allow Singh’s daughter, who lives in the United States, to attend the ceremony.
Singh will be accorded a full state funeral.
His mortal remains, which are currently at his 3, Motilal Nehru Road residence in New Delhi on Friday, will be taken to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters at 8 am on Saturday.
Here, the public and Congress workers will be given the opportunity to pay their respects to Singh.
Key party leaders including Rahul and Sonia Gandhi will pay tribute to the former prime minister.
Then, at 9.30, his body will be taken to the cremation ground.
“At 8 am tomorrow, December 28, his mortal remains will be taken to AICC HQ and the public and Congress workers will have the opportunity to offer their tributes between 8.30 am and 9.30 am tomorrow. Dr Singh’s final journey to the heavenly abode will commence from AICC HQ to the cremation ground at 9:30am tomorrow,” the Congress said in a statement.
As per CNBC, the Centre adheres a formal protocol for the last rites of all ex-prime ministers.
Singh’s body will be draped in the Tricolor before the procession.
A 21-gun salute will also be let off as a sign of respect.
Ex-prime ministers’ funerals are usually held at certain designated places in Delhi.
Sources told the outlet the last rites of several prime ministers including Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi took place at Raj Ghat – the national memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.
While Singh’s funeral is likely to adhere to this precedent, the exact location will be determined only after the family and the government arrive at an agreement.
What about Singh’s final resting place?
Deccan Herald reported that the Congress is seeking a separate resting place for Singh along the banks of the Yamuna near Raj Ghat.
Indian Express quoted sources as saying that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge made the request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Separately, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and party leader KC Venugopal also made the request to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday.
The Centre is yet to give the Congress a reply.
Ironically, it was the UPA government under Singh that had turned down demands for separate memorials.
In 2013, the UPA Cabinet decided to set up the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal as a common memorial ground due to a lack of space.
In 2018, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was cremated at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal on the banks of the Yamuna_._
As per Indian Express, the Congress’ actions come in the backdrop of claims that it often ignores those within the party outside the Gandhi family.
Critics of the party often cite the treatment the part meted out to ex_-_PM PV Narasimha Rao after his death.
Rao, who was the first prime minister outside the Nehru-Gandhi family who had a full term in office, remains the only Congress PM not given a separate resting place in the National Capital.
Rao’s body was not even allowed inside the Congress headquarters after he passed away in 2004.
His retinue were forced to park on the pavement outside the main gate, as per Indian Express.
With inputs from agencies
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