The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has strongly condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for not allotting space in the Rajghat complex for the cremation and memorial of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. On Saturday, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal expressed his shock on social media platform X, saying, "I am stunned to hear that former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji, was cremated at Nigambodh Ghat. Until now, all former Prime Ministers of India were cremated at Rajghat."
Singh was cremated at Nigambodh Ghat on Saturday in the presence of top dignitaries from India and abroad. He passed away on the night of December 26 at the age of 92.
An order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday stated, "It has been decided by the Government that a state funeral will be accorded to Dr. Manmohan Singh. The funeral will take place at 11:45 am on 28th December 2024 at Nigambodh Ghat, New Delhi.”
The AAP called on the BJP to clarify its stance and demanded an apology to Singh's family and the Sikh community.
Kejriwal further questioned, "Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji, who hailed from the Sikh community, earned global recognition, and served as India's Prime Minister for ten years, was denied even 1,000 square yards of land for his cremation and memorial by the BJP's central government?"
Senior leader and MP Sanjay Singh also stated that the BJP has insulted the entire Sikh community by not providing space in the Rajghat complex for the cremation of former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh. Singh, expressed his dismay stating, “It is deeply regrettable that we even have to discuss such an issue. This shows how narrow and petty the government’s mindset is. I want to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Dr. Manmohan Singh was a great economist respected worldwide. As India’s Prime Minister, he devoted ten years of his life to the country’s progress. Why this disrespect toward him?”
Senior AAP leader and Cabinet Minister, Saurabh Bharadwaj, expressed his shock, saying, “I am stunned to hear that Dr. Manmohan Singh, who served as the Prime Minister of this country for ten years and is regarded globally as a scholar. His economic policies are studied in universities worldwide. He saved the nation from economic crises and led India forward during liberalization.”
“And yet, the funeral of a Prime Minister from the Sikh community is being conducted at Nigambodh Ghat? Nigambodh Ghat for Dr. Manmohan Singh? Has our nation’s politics stooped so low that the central government cannot allocate even a thousand square yards of land in Delhi for a learned former Prime Minister? This is disgraceful. Such matters should not be politicised,” Saurabh Bharadwaj stated.
