Are former Prime Ministers mandated memorials?

Wed Jan 01 03:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Congress Criticizes Handling of Manmohan Singh’s Funeral, Demands Memorial

**New Delhi, January 1, 2025** – The cremation of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at Nigambodh Ghat on December 28th has sparked controversy, with the Congress party accusing the government of disrespecting the late leader. While the government declared seven days of state mourning and held a state funeral, the Congress contends that the choice of cremation site—a public crematorium—was an insult, unlike the designated memorials for other former Prime Ministers.

Unlike most of his predecessors, Dr. Singh was not cremated at a location reserved for former Prime Ministers. Constitutional expert P.D.T. Achary noted this departure from convention, highlighting the global respect Dr. Singh commanded. All former Prime Ministers except Vishwanath Pratap Singh have dedicated memorials, primarily in Delhi. These include Shanti Vana (Nehru), Vijay Ghat (Shastri), Kisan Ghat (Charan Singh), Shakti Sthal (Indira Gandhi), and Vir Bhumi (Rajiv Gandhi). In 2013, the Congress government established Smriti Sthal as a centralized location for future memorials due to space constraints.

Following the cremation, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting a designated site for a memorial. Although the Home Ministry subsequently stated that space would be allocated, no announcement had been made by December 30th. This contrasts sharply with the swift construction of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s memorial at Smriti Sthal within 45 days of his death in 2018, funded entirely by the “Atal Smriti Nyas Society” at a cost of ₹10.51 crore. The Congress is now demanding the government fulfill its promise and build a fitting memorial for Dr. Singh at a suitable location.