Why was former PM Deve Gowda not invited to unveiling of Kempegowda’s statue, asks JD(S)
Bengaluru: It was an insult for all Kannadigas that H D Deve Gowda, the only Prime Minister of India from Karnataka, was not invited to the unveiling of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda’s statue in the state capital, the JD(S) has said on social media.
In a post on its Twitter account, the party has expressed anger, “The BJP had invited the former Prime Minister while laying the foundation stone for the installation of the statue. Now, when the statue is to be unveiled, however, the government has sidelined him – why, we wish to know.”
It said that the event was not of merely local importance. “When the Prime Minister of India is visiting the capital for the launch of a statue of ‘Nadaprabhu’, a former Prime Minister ought to have been invited officially. Showing him such disregard has been an act of insult towards all Kannadigas,” the JD(S) has said.
“Everyone opines that the BJP government and the BJP leaders have sidelined the former Prime Minister for merely political reasons. The unveiling has been carried out like a party event,” the party said, adding that Nadaprabhu Kempegowda has been insulted by the action of the BJP.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has used the name of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda – who was an ideal leader since he treated all people equally – for political gains. The statue has been unveiled now, keeping in mind the upcoming elections in the state. This is extremely unfortunate,” the JD(S) opined in its tweet.
The party, however, also felt that the Karnataka government and local leaders of the BJP had misguided Prime Minister Modi. “Kannadigas have had the highest regard for Prime Minister Modi, but the BJP members in Karnataka have acted in a manner that would give him a black mark,” the JD(S) said.
The JD(S) stressed that Kempegowda was not anyone’s property, the state under a minister, or something that would be used for political benefits. “The Nadaprabhu is the pride of all Kannadigas, revered by all of us. Similarly, Bengaluru is everyone’s city; it is the lifeline of all Kannadigas,” the party reminded, stressing again, “The BJP government has forgotten this fact and insulted all Kannadigas.”
ನಾಡಪ್ರಭು ಕೆಂಪೇಗೌಡರ ನಂತರ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಗೆ ಮಹತ್ತರ ಕೊಡುಗೆ ನೀಡಿದ, ಕನ್ನಡ ನೆಲದಿಂದ ಪ್ರಧಾನಿ ಆಗಿದ್ದ ಏಕೈಕ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ @H_D_Devegowda ಅವರನ್ನು ಶ್ರೀ ಕೆಂಪೇಗೌಡರ ಪ್ರತಿಮೆ ಲೋಕಾರ್ಪಣೆ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಕ್ಕೆ ರಾಜ್ಯ @BJP4Karnataka ಸರಕಾರವು ಆಹ್ವಾನ ಮಾಡದಿರುವುದು ಸಮಸ್ತ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ಮಾಡಿದ ಅಪಮಾನ.1/7 pic.twitter.com/Zkr37zeSMl
— Janata Dal Secular (@JanataDal_S) November 11, 2022
ನಾಡಪ್ರಭುಗಳ ಪ್ರತಿಮೆ ಸ್ಥಾಪನೆಯ ಕಾಮಗಾರಿಗೆ ಅಡಿಗಲ್ಲು ಹಾಕುವ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಕ್ಕೆ ಮಾಜಿ ಪ್ರಧಾನಿಗಳನ್ನು ಆಹ್ವಾನಿಸಿದ ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಸರಕಾರ, ಅದೇ ಪ್ರಧಾನಿಗಳಿಂದ ಪ್ರತಿಮೆ ಲೋಕಾರ್ಪಣೆ ಮಾಡಿಸುವ ಸಮಾರಂಭಕ್ಕೆ ಅವರನ್ನು ಆಹ್ವಾನ ಮಾಡಲಿಲ್ಲ, ಯಾಕೆ? 2/7 pic.twitter.com/TWjZ5KJxrt
— Janata Dal Secular (@JanataDal_S) November 11, 2022
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Not having memorial for Manmohan Singh deliberate insult to India's 1st Sikh PM: Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi, Dec 27: The Congress on Friday said that not finding a location for the cremation and memorial for Manmohan Singh is a deliberate insult to the country's first Sikh prime minister.
The Congress raked up the issue after the Union home ministry said in a statement that Singh's last rites will be held at New Delhi's Nigambodh Ghat at 11:45 AM on Saturday with full state honours.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said party president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to conduct Singh's last rites at a location where a memorial could be built to honour his legacy.
"The people of our country are simply unable to understand why the Government of India could not find a location for his cremation and memorial that is befitting of his global stature, record of outstanding achievements, and exemplary service to the nation for decades," Ramesh said in a post on X.
"This is nothing but a deliberate insult to the first Sikh Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh," the Congress leader said.
Kharge 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 the letter.
Congress Legislature Party leader in Punjab assembly Pratap Singh Bajwa also separately urged Prime Minister Modi to have Manmohan Singh's funeral at a place where a memorial could be built later in his honour.
"I urge Prime Minister @narendramodi to honour Dr Manmohan Singh, one of the most towering Sikhs of modern times, with a memorial befitting his immense contributions to our nation. Rising from humble beginnings in a historic state, representing a community that has always stood steadfast for India's unity and progress, Dr Singh's life is a testament to intellect, integrity, and selfless service," he posted on X.
Bajwa said Punjabis across faiths and political lines unite in their heartfelt plea to recognise this son of Punjab, who played an instrumental role in shaping India's destiny, with the respect he deserves.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed the Centre has "declined" the request of Manmohan Singh's family for performing the funeral and last rites at a place where an appropriate memorial may be built.
There is no official word from the government on Kharge's request.
However, Badal took to X to post, "Shocking and unbelievable! It is condemnable in the extreme that Union Govt has declined the request of Dr Manmohan Singh Ji's family for performing the funeral and last rites of the highly distinguished leader at a place where an appropriate and historic memorial may be built to commemorate his unparalleled services to the nation."
He further said this place should be Raj Ghat.
"This will be in keeping with the settled practice and tradition followed in the past," Badal said.
He said it is "inexplicable" why the government is "showing such disrespect to the great leader who was the only member of the Sikh community to rise to become the Prime Minister".
"As of now, the cremation is slated to be performed at the common cremation ground at Nigambodh ghat. I am unable to believe that the BJP govt's bias would go to such extremes in utter disregard of the towering global stature which Dr Manmohan Singh ji enjoyed and will always enjoy," Badal further said in his post.
He said Singh took the country to great international heights.
"Our political differences with the Congress apart, we have always held Dr Manmohan Singh in the highest esteem as he transcends politics and political affiliations. He belongs to the entire nation.
"Dr Sahib showed great sensitivity and compassion in his dealings with Shiromani Akali Dal over Sikh and Punjab issues," said Badal urging Modi to "intervene personally to change this deplorable decision of the government".
Singh passed away on Thursday night at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at the age of 92.
आज सुबह कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष ने प्रधानमंत्री को पत्र लिखकर प्रस्ताव दिया था कि पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री डॉ. मनमोहन सिंह का अंतिम संस्कार ऐसे स्थान पर किया जाए जहां उनकी विरासत का सम्मान करने के लिए एक स्मारक बनाया जा सके।
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) December 27, 2024
हमारे देश के लोग यह नहीं समझ पा रहे हैं कि भारत सरकार उनके वैश्विक…
