Congress MP Danish Ali has criticized the Modi government’s decision to allocate a memorial site for former President Pranab Mukherjee at the ‘Rashtriya Smriti’ area complex, alleging political bias.
Ali accused the government of engaging in “dirty politics” by approving a memorial for Mukherjee while allegedly rejecting a national demand for a similar honor for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Rajghat. He described this as a significant insult to Singh, whom he credited with bringing economic reforms to the country.
Recalling Mukherjee’s 2018 visit to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur, Ali suggested that the government’s decision serves as a reward for Mukherjee’s perceived affinity towards the RSS. During that visit, Mukherjee referred to RSS founder K.B. Hedgewar as “Dharti Putra” (Son of the Soil) and played a role in installing a portrait of V.D. Savarkar in Parliament.
In response, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused the Congress of disrespecting its own leaders, highlighting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has honored various leaders across party lines, including Mukherjee, who was awarded the Bharat Ratna. Poonawalla also noted that the Congress Working Committee did not hold a condolence meeting for Mukherjee, underscoring internal disrespect within the party.
The government’s decision to establish a memorial for Mukherjee comes amid ongoing discussions about memorials for other national leaders. Pranab Mukherjee, who served as President of India from 2012 to 2017, passed away on August 31, 2020.
His daughter, Sharmistha Mukherjee, expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Modi for the unexpected gesture, stating that state honors should be offered, not requested. She emphasized that while such honors do not affect her late father, they hold significant meaning for his family.
