Navjot Sidhu urges President to establish memorial for Dr Manmohan Singh at Rajghat

Chandigarh: Former Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has called for a memorial to honor the late former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, sparking a heated debate. In a letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, Sidhu demanded that Dr. Singh’s memorial be constructed at Rajghat, in keeping with the tradition of honoring India’s former prime ministers.

Sidhu argued that memorials have been established for all previous prime ministers, including caretaker leaders like Gulzari Lal Nanda, with notable examples such as Shanti Van for Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Vijay Ghat for Lal Bahadur Shastri, and Shakti Sthal for Indira Gandhi.

However, this tradition was broken when Dr. Singh was cremated at Nigam Bodh Ghat, a location not associated with any other prime minister’s last rites.

“This omission appears to reflect political bias,” Sidhu wrote. He emphasized that memorials transcend partisan considerations and are vital for preserving India’s history and honoring its leaders’ contributions.

He pointed out that leaders like PV Narasimha Rao, whose last rites were conducted outside Delhi, have memorials such as Gyan Bhoomi in Hyderabad.

Dr. Singh’s legacy as an economist and statesman, Sidhu said, warrants recognition through a memorial at Rajghat. He added that neglecting such a tribute undermines India’s democratic ethos.

Sidhu also noted criticism from the family of former Prime Minister VP Singh over the absence of his memorial, stressing that such oversight should not extend to Dr. Manmohan Singh.

“The contribution of Dr. Manmohan Singh in shaping India’s destiny cannot be ignored or politicized,” Sidhu concluded, urging immediate action to rectify the oversight.