Centre starts process for former PM Manmohan Singh’s memorial, options given to family

The central government has started the process of building a memorial for former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. Suggestions of possible sites have been shared with his family, who have been asked to select a location to start construction work. According to sources, about 1 to 1.5 acres of land near Rajghat, Rashtriya Smriti Sthal or Kisan Ghat has been proposed for the memorial. Officials of the Urban Development Ministry have already inspected these areas. At the same time, some options have been given to Manmohan Singh’s family. Under the new policy, land for the memorial can only be allotted to a trust. Therefore, the formation of a trust is a prerequisite for starting the project. Once the trust is set up, it will apply for land allotment, and an MoU will be signed with the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for construction. There is also a possibility that the memorial may be located near Rajghat, where the final resting places of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi are located. The move comes days after the BJP and Congress engaged in a war of words over a memorial for late former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Congress criticised the BJP for rejecting the party’s request to cremate the former prime minister at a designated site where a memorial could be built. In response, the BJP termed it “petty politics”. The 92-year-old leader passed away on December 26, 2024.