Former president’s daughter Sharmishta meets PM and expresses her gratitude to allot land for building a memorial of her father

Few days ago when the former prime minister Dr.Manmohan Singh had died at the age of 92 sending shock waves all around there was a demand by the Sikh community as well as the Congress party for giving final adieu to the most respected leader, outstanding economist, luminary, the exceptional prime minister of the nation who took India to new heights and as finance minister introduced liberalisation opening economy of our nation for one and all at a dignified place which can later be turned into his memorial as other presidents and prime ministers were allotted memorials. The Congress president and the veteran leader octogenarian Mallikarjun Kharge and leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi too had raised this pivotal issue and written a letter to the prime minister Narendra Modi personally urging to cremate Dr.Manmohan Singh at a dignified place in place of Rajghat which may later be converted into a memorial near Rajghat etc for this outstanding luminary of global fame.

Even the eminent cricketer and former cabinet minister of Punjab Navjyot Singh Sidhu had written a hard hitting letter to the president of India to allot the dignified place to the former luminary and ex prime minister of the largest democracy of the globe Dr.Manmoham Singh to built his memorial as was the case with almost all former prime ministers, but all in vain.

Sidhu has also termed this as the question of prestige and dignity and question of the honour of the entire Sikh community from where belonged Dr. Manmohan Singh and he being the first and only prime minister from the Sikh community who also brought out the nation from the throes of financial difficulties and complications taking it to greater progressive heights of outstanding economic development.

There was tremendous debate on this issue in the country.

While this issue has not been addressed till date or may be under consideration of the central government to be declared in the near future, the ministry of Urban development and Housing has taken a quick decision honouring the former president of India , earlier union minister in several ministries during Congress regime Dr. Pranab Mukherjee by earmarking a designated site for erecting a Samadhi of late president.

Writing a letter to the daughter of the former president Ms.Sharmistha Mukherjee it mentioned that the competent authority has approved the remarking of the designated site at Rashtra Smriti Complex , ( a part of the Rajghat precinct) for erecting a Samadhi of late Sh. Pranab Mukherjee , former President of India.

It is quite obvious that the late president being the renowned Congressman and former union minister in several ministries from the tenure of late PM Indira Gandhi to Rajiv Gandhi to Narasimha Rao , Congress party will never oppose to this central government’s proposal hence instead of taking immediate decision of Dr. Singh’s memorial , decision has been taken on former President’s memorial for which there was infact no hullabaloo or demand, though the decision is definity a welcome decision.

The daughter of former president Dr.Mukherjee, Sharmishta Mukherjee has on 6 December personally thanked and expressed her gratitude to prime minister for allotting land for the memorial of her father.

She met the prime minister and extended her thanks for this obligation. She tweeted posting her photos too on X writing : Called on Hon’ble PM@narendramodi ji to express thanks & gratitude from core of my heart 4 his govts’ decision 2 create a memorial 4 baba. It’s more cherished considering that we didn’t ask for it. Immensely touched by this unexpected but truly gracious gesture by PM.

She earlier said : Baba ( father ) used to say that State honours shouldn’t be asked for, it should be offered. I’m so grateful that PM Modi did this to honour babas’ memory. It doesn’t affect baba where he is now- beyond applaud or criticism. But for his daughter, words are not sufficient to express my joy wrote Sharmishta on X.

Meanwhile the senior journalist , columnist and two term president of Press Club of India Umakant Lakhera has termed this as nothing but a pure manipulation on the part of the BJP political dispensation to downgrade opposition and to create a controversy in Delhi elections.

He wrote on his social media Facebook timeline : Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh passed away a few days ago. The controversy over the way the sentiments of his family and party were ignored regarding the place of his cremation has not yet subsided.

Meanwhile, in a hurry, leaving aside all work, a photo session was arranged with former President Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter Sharmishtha Mukherjee. There was no occasion and no meaning.

The only motive is that someone should make a statement on this meeting and create controversy in the Delhi elections. If a memorial is built in the memory of Pranab Mukherjee, not just the Congress but everyone will welcome it.

There was probably no need for Manmohan Singh to be alive or not for this work.

When hurt feelings arose from across the country over the haphazard funeral of an impeccably popular Prime Minister who had been Prime Minister for ten years, like the common man, at Manmohan Singh’s memorial and Nigambodh Ghat, Sharmishtha Mukherjee was asked to comment on what was done for her father!

The only motive is to tarnish the memories of Manmohan Singh and the dignity and respect for him as a very honest, great and learned economist in the country and the world in some way or the other.

Would anyone like the vulgarity of pitting personalities like Manmohan Singh and Pranab Mukherjee face to face after their death?