'Unexpected, immensely touched'; Central govt allocates space for Pranab Mukherjee memorial at Raj Ghat

NEW DELHI: The central government has allotted space for a memorial to former president Pranab Mukherjee inside the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal at Rajghat. Pranab's daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and thanked him. The land was allotted for the memorial amid Congress allegations that the government was lax in building a memorial to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Some days back, Sharmistha Mukherjee slammed Congress for showing disrespect to her father during his death. She also blamed Congress for showing lax in raising demand for a memorial for Pranab Mukherjee. Pranab Mukherjee, who served as the 13th President of India from 2012 to 2017, passed away in August 2020. The Modi government honoured him with Bharat Ratna in 2019.

Meanwhile, a team of top officials from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs visited places around the Vijay Ghat, Rashtriya Smriti Sthal and Sanjay Gandhi Memorial to locate a place to construct a memorial to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Negotiations are in progress under the leadership of the Ministry of Home Affairs to finalize the location. A shortlist of places will be handed over to Manmohan's family.

“I met PM Modi to express gratitude for the government's decision. Appreciate the unsolicited action there. The decision is unexpected and deeply touching. My father always used to tell us that honours should land upon us rather than chasing it. I am very grateful that PM Modi has done this in memory of my father.” Said Sharmistha Mukherjee.