A few hours before the burial of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday, a controversy has arisen over his memorial. In political rhetoric, Congress accused the BJP, after which the BJP gave a befitting reply to the Congress and said that at least do not play dirty politics in the name of Manmohan Singh. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday talked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about exploring the possibility of building a memorial for Manmohan Singh at the same place where his funeral will take place today.

Congress chief Kharge said, "This is in keeping with the tradition of building memorials for statesmen and former prime ministers at the site of their cremation." In a press release, the central government said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that space would be allotted for Dr Manmohan Singh's memorial, adding that the cremation and other formalities could go ahead in the meantime.

Congress made the allegation, BJP replied

The senior Congress leader was also quick to attack the BJP, saying people were unable to understand why the Centre could not find a location for the memorial, calling it an insult to India's first Sikh prime minister. 

On the issue of allotment of space for the memorial of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Congress leader Rajesh Thakur said, "It is very sad and no politics should be done on this issue... It is condemnable that a small space is not being allotted to a Prime Minister who has served the country..."

Congress MP and party's Punjab chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said, "We are demanding that the government provide space for the memorial. If space can be given to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, why not to Manmohan Singh? He was the only Sikh Prime Minister of the country... When the memorial is built, it will inspire future generations..."

On the allegations of Congress leaders, BJP said that Congress should stop dirty politics over the death of Dr Singh. A statement from the party said, "Congress should remember how they treated former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao ji after his death."

The last rites will be performed at Nigambodh Ghat

Former PM of the country Dr. Manmohan Singh died at the age of 92 in Delhi AIIMS. His body will be kept at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters for an hour from 8.30 am today for people and Congress workers to pay their last respects. Party General Secretary KC Venugopal said that Singh's last journey will start from the headquarters to the crematorium at 9.30 am on Saturday. His last rites will be performed with full state honors at 11.45 am on Saturday at Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi.