Sharmistha Mukherjee slams Congress over CWC snub after Pranab Mukherjee’s death, backs memorial for Manmohan Singh

Sharmistha Mukherjee, daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee, has criticized the Congress party for failing to convene a Congress Working Committee (CWC) condolence meeting after her father’s death in August 2020. She shared her disappointment in a series of posts, highlighting that despite her father’s stature as a former President, no such gesture was extended by the Congress leadership. Mukherjee revealed that a senior Congress leader had told her that it was not customary to hold a CWC meeting for Presidents. She dismissed this as incorrect, citing her father’s diaries which revealed that a CWC meeting was indeed held after the death of former President K.R. Narayanan in 2005, and that Pranab Mukherjee himself had drafted the condolence message.

The issue resurfaced as Sharmistha Mukherjee also expressed her support for the proposal to establish a memorial for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away at the age of 92 on December 27, 2024. She praised Singh’s legacy, stating that he deserved a memorial and Bharat Ratna, a recognition that her father, during his presidency, had planned to bestow upon Singh. However, Mukherjee noted that the award was never conferred, though she refrained from elaborating on possible political reasons behind this.

On December 28, 2024, Congress raised concerns regarding the government’s treatment of Manmohan Singh’s last rites. The party criticized the government for not allocating an official space for his cremation, instead choosing Nigambodh Ghat, which led to accusations of disrespect. In response, the Union Home Ministry clarified that land would be designated for Singh’s memorial, confirming that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Singh’s family had been informed of this decision. The Ministry also stated that formalities for the creation of the memorial, including the formation of a trust, were in progress.

The Congress had earlier expressed concerns about the government’s handling of Singh’s funeral, arguing that his contributions to the nation warranted greater recognition. Following Singh’s death, the Home Ministry acted to ensure that his legacy would be honored through the establishment of a memorial. The Congress’s initial criticism of the cremation arrangements was addressed by the government’s subsequent commitment to providing a suitable space for the memorial.

Manmohan Singh, who served as Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014, was a central figure in the country’s economic transformation. As Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996, he played a pivotal role in India’s liberalization, opening up the economy to global markets. His tenure as Prime Minister saw the continuation of these reforms, along with significant strides in foreign policy. Singh is widely credited with steering India through a period of rapid economic growth, enhancing India’s global stature.