21 hours Ago By Dipak K Dash and Ambika Pandit
NEW DELHI: The govt has "earmarked" a site at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal for a memorial to late President Pranab Mukherjee. This comes amid speculation of the govt earmarking a site for former PM Manmohan Singh's memorial very soon. Singh's family is likely to visit sites shortlisted by the govt at Smriti Sthal and adjoining areas in the Raj Ghat precinct soon, sources said.
Earmarking of the site for Mukherjee's memorial was made public by the late President's daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee in a tweet on Tuesday after meeting PM Modi. The land and development office (L&DO) under the housing and urban affairs ministry earmarked the site on Jan 1. Sources said as per norms, the site will be allotted to a trust after it is set up.
The order said, "The competent authority has approved earmarking of a designated site within 'Rashtriya Smriti' complex (a part of Raj Ghat precinct) for erecting a samadhi of late Pranab Mukherjee, former President." In a post on X, Pranab's daughter Sharmistha said, "Called on PM Narendra Modi to express thanks and gratitude from the core of my heart for his govt's decision to create a memorial for baba. It's more cherished considering that we didn't ask for it.
Immensely touched by this unexpected but truly gracious gesture by PM...
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 baba's memory. It doesn't affect baba where he is now - beyond applaud or criticism.
But for his daughter, words are not sufficient to express my joy." Sources said as per norms, the site will be allotted to a trust after it is set up. But earmarking of the site makes it clear that a memorial will be built there.
The former President was cremated with full state honours at Lodhi Road electric crematorium on Sept 1, 2020. Sources said the same process is likely to be adopted for Singh's memorial, of earmarking a spot and allotting it when a trust is in place. TOI has learnt that an undeveloped land space close to Raj Ghat, sites at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal and around Sadaiv Atal, the memorial of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, have been shortlisted for Singh's memorial.
But the final decision will be taken after his family gives consent. Though the family was scheduled to visit the sites on Sunday, it was postponed. Sharmistha had attacked Congress after it accused the Modi govt of "insulting" Singh by conducting his state funeral at Delhi's Nigambodh Ghat.
She said when her father passed away, Congress didn't even bother to call CWC for a condolence meeting. She had also said that a senior representative told her it's not done for presidents. "That's utter rubbish as I learned later from baba's diaries that on K R Narayanan's death, CWC was called and condolence message was drafted by baba only," she had posted on X.
.
