New Delhi: A political showdown has erupted between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress over Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Vietnam during the seven-day national mourning period for Manmohan Singh. The BJP called Rahul’s behavior “disrespectful” to the former prime minister, while the Congress defended it, calling it a “personal trip”.
On Monday, BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya said that “while the nation mourns the death of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi flew to Vietnam to welcome the New Year”, triggering new controversy. Accusing Rahul Gandhi of “politicizing” and “exploiting” the death of the former prime minister, Malviya said “Gandhi and the Congress hate Sikhs”.
“Never forget that Indira Gandhi desecrated Darbar Sahib,” he said.
Responding to the allegations, Congress MP Manshikam Tagore said, “When will the Sangees stop this ‘diversionary’ politics? Modi refuses to provide Dr Sahib with a cremation place on the banks of the Yamuna , and how his ministers cornered Dr. Sahib’s family, which is disgraceful.
A day earlier, the BJP and Congress were at loggerheads over Gandhi’s failure to show up to collect the body of Manmohan Singh. However, the Congress party said on Monday that “out of respect for the privacy of the family, senior Congress leaders did not accompany the family to gather and bury the ashes of Manmohan Singh Ji”.
After bidding farewell to Manmohan Singh across the country, a political clash erupted between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress as the latter demanded that he be cremated at a designated memorial site. While the Congress claimed that the BJP had “disrespected and seriously insulted” Singh, the ruling party accused the Congress of engaging in “cheap politics” at the former prime minister’s funeral.
On Friday, the Center announced that Singh’s last rites will be performed at Nigambodh Ghat, despite Congress’ demand for a dedicated location for a future memorial. The center clarified in a statement that a trust will be established and space allocated for a memorial, but funerals will still take place at the crematorium. Since then, prominent leaders from both sides have accused each other of alleged “disrespect” towards the late Manmohan Singh.
Sites believed to be under consideration for the construction of a Singh memorial include areas near Kisanghat, a memorial to former Prime Minister Chaudhry Charan Singh, and the Rashtrapati Bhavan at the designated spot for the last rites of the President, Vice President and Prime Minister. A decision on both sites, both close to the Yamuna river, is expected in the coming days.
