New Delhi, Dec 27: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to conduct the last rites of former PM Manmohan Singh at a place where a memorial can be built.

He wrote the letter after speaking to Modi about setting up a memorial for Singh, who was a two-term prime minister revered by the people of the country.

"Apropos our telephonic conversation today morning, wherein I made a request to hold Dr Manmohan Singh's last rites, which will take place tomorrow i.e. 28th December 2024, at his final resting place that would be a sacrosanct venue for memorial of the great son of India.

"This is in keeping with such tradition of having memorials of statesmen and former Prime Ministers at the very place of their funerals," Kharge said in his two-page letter.

The Congress chief said Dr Manmohan Singh holds a highly revered place in the psyche of the country and the people of this nation, and his contributions and achievements were phenomenal.

He also said that Dr Singh's erudition on economic and fiscal matters came from his vast experience as the governor of the Reserve Bank of India, chief economic advisor to the government of India and in various other capacities in several organisations, and the respect and regard that world leaders had for him bears testimony to this fact.

Kharge said Singh's wise counsel, leadership and contribution in mitigating the global economic financial crisis is well-acknowledged. He also recalled President Obama's words when as the US president, he mentioned that "whenever the Indian prime minister speaks, the whole world listens to him".

He also said that when the nation was in the throes of a grave economic crisis, it was Dr Manmohan Singh, along with former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao, who took India out of the crisis and also led the country towards economic prosperity and stability.

The nation today reaps the benefits of the robust economic foundations built by them, Kharge noted.

"Coming from a humble background and having experienced the pains and sufferings of the Partition, it is through his sheer grit and determination that he rose to become one of the leading statesmen of the world. I hope and trust that befitting stature of Dr Manmohan Singh, request to have the funeral of Dr Singh at a place where his memorial can be built, will be acceded," Kharge said in his letter to Modi.

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Udupi (Press Release): Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the Responsible Jeweller relaunched its showroom in Udupi, following an extensive renovation. Sri Kota Srinivas Poojary inaugurated the showroom in the presence of Filsor Babu, Regional Head – Karnataka and management team members, staff, customers and other dignitaries. Located at Udupi the showroom has been transformed into a luxurious space designed to offer an exceptional jewellery shopping experience. With expanded floorspace and a rich array of collections, the Udupi showroom is set to become the ultimate destination for jewellery lovers in the region, offering exquisite designs at competitive prices and fair making charges.

As part of the relaunch, customers will have the unique opportunity to enjoy up to 25% off on the value of Diamonds and receive 100% exchange value on old Mine Diamond jewellery. Avail Free Silver Coin with Every Purchase. Offer Valid till 05th January 2025.

The showroom showcases an extensive range of Malabar’s popular exclusive brands, including Mine Diamonds, Era Uncut Diamonds, Divine Heritage Jewellery, Ethnix Handcrafted Designs, Precia Gemstone Collections, and Viraaz Polki Jewellery. Whether it’s traditional designs, contemporary pieces, or lightweight, everyday jewellery, the Udupi showroom caters to every taste and occasion. In addition, the showroom’s exclusive bridal collections feature intricately crafted jewellery that is sure to make weddings a memorable celebration. The showroom is also running ‘Artistry Show’, the biggest showcase and sale of exquisite jewellery pieces from the exclusive brands of Malabar from 28th December 2024 to 05th January 2025.

M.P. Ahammed, Chairman, Malabar Group, expressed his excitement about the relaunch, said, “We are immensely proud to open our doors to Udupi with a renovated showroom that reflects our commitment to offering not just jewellery, but a superior shopping experience. This relaunch is a reaffirmation of our bond with the people of Udupi, and we are truly grateful for the trust and loyalty our customers have shown us. With this revitalized space, we aim to continue serving the community with unmatched craftsmanship, transparency, and customer-centric service."

Malabar Gold & Diamonds is renowned for its commitment to transparency and fairness in pricing. Furthermore, the brand offers the One India One Gold Rate scheme, ensuring uniform pricing for gold across all its showrooms in the country. Strengthening the brand's commitment to its customers, Malabar Gold & Diamonds offers Malabar Promises. The promises include a transparent price tag indicating stone weight, net weight, and stone charge of the jewellery; assured lifetime free maintenance for the jewellery; 100% exchange value for gold and diamonds; 100% HUID-compliant gold; IGI and GIA-certified diamonds ensuring a 28-point quality check of global standards, buyback guarantee; complimentary jewellery insurance, responsible sourcing; and fair labour practices.

As a Responsible Jeweller, Malabar Gold & Diamonds is committed to ethical sourcing and sustainable practices. All gold is sourced through authorised channels, with a firm stance against gold smuggling, child labour, and tax evasion. The brand adheres to strict import tax and royalty policies, ensuring fair wages for artisans. Malabar guarantees 100% HUID-hallmarked gold, IGI-GIA-certified diamonds, and gold bars from trusted institutions like LBMA and DGDB.

About Malabar Gold & Diamonds:

Malabar Gold & Diamonds was established in 1993 and is the flagship company of Malabar Group, a leading diversified Indian business conglomerate. With an annual turnover of $6.2 billion, the company is currently the 6th largest jewellery retailer globally and the 19th ranked brand in Deloitte’s Luxury Goods World Ranking.

They have a strong retail network of over 375 showrooms spread across 13 countries in addition to multiple offices, design centres, wholesale units, and factories spread across India, the Middle East, the Far East, the USA, the UK, Canada & Australia. Malabar Gold & Diamonds also features an online showroom www.malabargoldanddiamonds.com providing customers the opportunity to purchase their favourite jewellery at any time and on any day from the comfort of their homes.

ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) and CSR have been the primary commitments of the group since its inception. The key focus areas of the Malabar Group are Health, Housing, Hunger Free World, Education, Environment and Women empowerment, integrating the principles of responsibility and sustainability into its core business.