BJP takes on PV Narasimha Rao as Congress calls Manmohan Singh ‘insult’ | Latest News India

Union minister Pralhad Joshi rejected Congress’ allegation that the Center had insulted Manmohan Singh, the country’s first Sikh prime minister, by conducting his last rites at Nigambodh Ghat instead of a designated site that could be converted into his memorial. He described the accusation as “cheap politics”.

Joshi said apart from Manmohan Singh, the Congress had shown no respect to former Prime Minister Rao and former President Pranab Mukherjee.

“The Congress did not pay due respect not only to former Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) but also to another former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and former President Pranab Mukherjee. Now Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter said that the Congress did not call a CWC meeting after the death of her father,” he said.

He said the Congress did not give Bharat Ratna to Rao, one of the architects of the 1991 economic reforms.

On Saturday, BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia questioned the Congress’ decision not to build a memorial for Rao. He was reacting to Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s attack on the Center over its decision to conduct Manmohan Singh’s cremation at Nigambodh Ghat.

To compound his attack, Bhatia asked Priyanka to share the pictures of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi paying tributes to the mortal remains of former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao.

Also read: ‘Deceptive politics’: BJP criticizes Rahul Gandhi over X-post on Manmohan Singh

The BJP leader further claimed that former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao’s mortal remains were not allowed to be kept at the Congress headquarters and that his family had been told to cremate him not in New Delhi but in his hometown.

Further attacking, Bhatia asked Priyanka to share the address of the ‘Samadhi Sthal’ set up by the Congress for former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and said that they would come together to pay tribute to him.

“His body was not allowed to enter the Congress headquarters. His family was told not to cremate him in New Delhi but in his hometown. Is that respect? I am sure that you and Rahul Gandhi will definitely find the courage to ask these tough questions.” Questions for your mother, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. And yes, please share with us the address of the Samadhi Sthal set up by the Congress for Narasimha Rao ji. Our government has recognized his contribution by awarding him the Bharat Ratna posthumously,” he said.

Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw alleged that the Congress sidelined Manmohan Singh during his tenure as prime minister.

“The hypocrisy of Congress is laid bare when it elects Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji’s final journey politicized. The Congress has repeatedly sidelined him during his tenure as Prime Minister,” the minister said.

“The Congress denied a befitting memorial to former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao Ji, the architect of economic reforms. He was denied the final trip through the AICC headquarters. Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji was demoted to the position of Deputy Prime Minister. The real power was exercised by Mrs Gandhi.” “The National Advisory Council has undermined our Constitution,” Vaishnaw said.

Also Read: Manmohan Singh funeral: Congress claims ‘mismanagement’; BJP accuses “cheap politics”.

Manmohan Singh, who ushered in the economic reforms that paved the way for India’s rapid development, died on Thursday. He was 92 years old. He was cremated at the Nigam Bodh burial ground in Delhi.

The Congress alleged that there was mismanagement at Singh’s funeral.

“Mr Nadda and the BJP have crossed all limits of decency and forced us to point out the gross hypocrisy and cheap political tricks of the BJP in the last two days. The government’s shoddy arrangements and behavior at the cremation of Dr. Manmohan Singh ji were “This was deeply offensive and made it clear that the government was hell-bent on demeaning his image for petty political reasons,” Congress leader KC Venugopal posted on X.

With inputs from PTI