BJP hits out at Rahul Gandhi for New Year Vietnam trip during national mourning for Manmohan Singh

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticized Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for flying to Vietnam to celebrate the New Year while India was in a seven-day national mourning period for former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Dr. Singh passed away on December 26, at the age of 92 due to age-related health issues. His funeral took place on December 30 with full state honors at the Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi, where family, friends, and dignitaries gathered to pay their respects.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Gandhi of showing disrespect by leaving the country during the mourning period. He said, "While the country is mourning Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's demise, Rahul Gandhi has flown abroad to bring in the New Year even as the nation observes seven days of mourning." Poonawalla also accused the Congress party of disregarding Dr. Singh during his lifetime and after his death, citing Congress’s failure to support his posthumous Bharat Ratna nomination. He claimed that Congress had "abused and insulted" Singh, and pointed out that no senior Congress leaders attended the ceremony to collect Dr. Singh’s ashes.

The ashes of Dr. Singh were immersed on December 31, at the Yamuna River near Majnu ka Tila Gurdwara, in accordance with Sikh traditions. Only family members and close friends participated in the ritual, as per the wishes of the bereaved family. The Congress party defended its decision not to send senior leaders, stating that it had respected the family’s privacy during this personal moment. In response to the BJP's criticism of Gandhi’s travel, Congress MP Manickam Tagore asked, "If Mr. Gandhi travels privately, why does it bother you?" He also raised concerns over the handling of Dr. Singh’s cremation, specifically accusing the Modi government of denying him a place for cremation near the Yamuna River, a site reportedly earmarked for his memorial.

The political battle continued as the BJP criticized Congress for demanding that Dr. Singh be cremated at a memorial site near the Yamuna River, alleging that Congress was politicizing the situation. The BJP also pointed to Gandhi’s past actions, including the alleged reports that during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Gandhi was seen partying instead of engaging with the national crisis. The Congress, in turn, countered these accusations, asserting that the BJP was misusing the death of a prominent leader to distract from other political issues.

While the cremation ceremony for Dr. Singh took place with full state honors, his passing has sparked ongoing political debates regarding his legacy, memorial plans, and the actions of both the BJP and Congress during this time of national mourning. The BJP has accused Congress of disrespecting Dr. Singh, while Congress has criticized the BJP for politicizing the funeral arrangements and failing to honor his legacy appropriately. The controversy over Dr. Singh’s ashes immersion and the handling of his memorial has continued to fuel political tensions between the two parties.

The funeral and memorial issues surrounding Dr. Singh have highlighted the ongoing divisions between the BJP and Congress, with both sides accusing each other of disrespecting the former Prime Minister's memory for political gain. Dr. Singh, known for his role in India's economic liberalization and as a key architect of the country’s modern economic policies, remains a central figure in the ongoing political discourse.