Centre Plans Memorial For Former President Pranab Mukherjee, His Daughter Thanks PM Modi For 'Truly Gracious Gesture'

The Union government has decided to construct a memorial for former President and Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee, even as discussions over a memorial site for former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, which has stirred political controversy, are ongoing.

On Tuesday (7 January), Sharmistha Mukherjee, daughter of the late Pranab Mukherjee, shared on X (formerly Twitter) that she had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed her gratitude for the government’s decision to build a memorial for her father.

She shared a letter confirming that the memorial would be located within the ‘Rashtriya Smriti Sthal,’ a designated complex in Rajghat for memorials of Presidents, Vice-Presidents, and Prime Ministers.

Mukherjee stated that the decision was especially meaningful since her family had not requested the memorial.

"Called on Hon'ble PM @narendramodi ji to express thanks & gratitude from core of my heart 4 his govts' decision 2 create a memorial 4 baba. It's more cherished considering that we didn't ask for it. Immensely touched by this unexpected but truly gracious gesture by PM," Ms Mukherjee, who is also a former Congress leader, wrote.

"Baba used to say that State honours shouldn't be asked for, it should be offered. I'm so grateful that PM Modi did this to honour babas' memory. It doesnt affect baba where he is now- beyond applaud or criticism. But for his daughter, words are not sufficient to express my joy (sic)," she added.

After former PM Manmohan Singh died on 26 December and his funeral was planned at the Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had written to PM Modi and asked for Singh's last rites to be held at a site where his memorial could be constructed.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had criticised the Centre, questioning why it was unable to identify a suitable site for the cremation and memorial of the former Prime Minister.

"This is nothing but a deliberate insult to the first Sikh Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh," Ramesh had said.

Responding to the criticism, the BJP highlighted the irony of Congress emphasising traditions while having failed to build a memorial for former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao during its tenure.

"The Congress never built a memorial for him in the 10 years they were in power from 2004-2014. It was only PM Modi ji in 2015 who instituted a memorial for Narasimha Rao ji and honoured him posthumously in 2024 with the Bharat Ratna," BJP spokesperson C R Kesavan had said.

Wading into the controversy, Sharmistha had said that when her father died in 2020, the Congress had not called a meeting of the Congress Working Committee, the highest decision-making body of the party, and suggested she had been misled.

"When baba passed away, Congress didnt even bother 2 call CWC 4 condolence meeting. A senior leader told me it's not done 4 Presidents. Thats utter rubbish as I learned later from baba's diaries that on KR Narayanan's death, CWC was called & condolence msg was drafted by baba only (sic)," she wrote on X.

Amid the controversy, the Home Ministry announced that a suitable site would be identified for Singh’s memorial.

The process, which includes the option of ‘Rashtriya Smriti Sthal,’ is underway, with the government in consultation with Singh’s family, NDTV reported citing sources.

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