Congress is turning a moment of grief into opportunity: JP Nadda on attacks over Manmohan Singh's funeral

The controversy surrounding the choice of the site for Manmohan Singh's cremation and memorial intensified on Saturday after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Centre of "insulting" the former prime minister’s memory.

Dr. Singh, who served as India's prime minister from 2004 to 2014, passed away at 92 on December 26 at AIIMS Delhi.

His last rites were performed on Saturday at Nigambodh Ghat with full state honours.

Criticising the choice of cremation site, Rahul Gandhi said: "The great son of Mother India and the first Prime Minister of the Sikh community, Dr. Manmohan Singh ji has been totally insulted by the present government by performing his last rites today at the Nigambodh Ghat. He was the Prime Minister of India for a decade, during his tenure the country became an economic superpower and his policies are still the support of the poor and backward classes of the country."

"Till date, respecting the dignity of all former Prime Ministers, their last rites were performed at authorized burial sites so that every person could have the last darshan and pay homage without any inconvenience. Dr. Manmohan Singh deserves our highest respect and a memorial. The government should have shown respect to this great son of the country and his proud community," he added.

Responding to the attack, JP Nadda said "cheap politics" was being played over Dr Singh's cremation and pointed out that the Centre had already stated that space would be allotted for his memorial.

Repeating a charge that the BJP has frequently levelled against the Congress, he also accused the party of placing its then-president Sonia Gandhi as 'super PM' over Manmohan Singh when he was the Prime Minister between 2004 and 2014.

"When the entire nation mourns the demise of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh ji, the Congress party is busy turning this moment of grief into an opportunity to fulfill their political agenda," Nadda said.

"Gandhi family has neither honored nor delivered justice to any leader of the nation, even if they were from the Congress party. The nation will never forget or forgive the historic sins of the principle-less Congress party," he said.

Dr. Singh’s body was taken to Nigambodh Ghat in a flower-adorned vehicle, accompanied by security personnel and a large crowd of supporters.

Rahul Gandhi walked alongside the procession and later helped carry the casket to the pyre.

The cremation ceremony was attended by numerous dignitaries, including President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Congress leaders such as Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Jairam Ramesh were present, along with senior BJP leaders Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh.

Foreign dignitaries, including Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful, attended the ceremony to honour Dr. Singh's legacy.

The former prime minister’s eldest daughter, Upinder Singh, lit the funeral pyre as Sikh priests recited Gurbani hymns.

The ceremony concluded with a 21-gun salute by the armed forces.