The Congress party has clarified its stance regarding the absence of its leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, during the immersion of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's ashes in the Yamuna River.
The clarification came after several BJP leaders criticised the Congress for not attending the event, where BJP members were present.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera explained that the decision not to participate in the ash immersion ceremony was taken out of respect for the privacy of Dr. Singh's family.
Khera stated that senior Congress leaders refrained from attending the ceremony to give the family the space they needed during such an emotionally challenging moment.
He said that after discussions with the Singh family, it was decided that, given the lack of privacy during the cremation, the family should be allowed some solitude for the 'Phool Chunana' (gathering flowers) and the ash immersion process.
These rites, Khera added, are deeply personal and emotionally significant, and the Congress leaders felt it was crucial to respect that.
Despite the absence of Congress leaders at the ceremony, Khera mentioned that Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had met Dr. Singh's family after his cremation, reaffirming their support and condolences.
He further emphasised that the Congress party's absence from the immersion was not an act of disrespect, but rather a decision to maintain the dignity and privacy of the grieving family.
The controversy sparked after BJP leaders, including Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, publicly criticised Congress for not being present during the immersion.
Puri remarked that while BJP members attended the ceremony and prayed for Dr. Singh, Congress leaders were notably absent. He expressed his disappointment at their absence, considering the immense respect the Sikh community had for the late Prime Minister.
BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya echoed these sentiments, accusing the Congress party of using Dr. Singh’s death for media attention but failing to show respect during such a crucial moment.
He described the absence of Congress leaders as "truly shameful" and questioned the party's commitment to honouring Dr. Singh’s memory with dignity.
Dr. Singh, who passed away on December 26 at the age of 92, was cremated with full state honours. His ashes were immersed on December 29 at the 'Asth Ghat' near the Majnu ka Tila Gurdwara in Delhi, following Sikh rituals.
Dr. Singh’s wife, Gursharan Kaur, and their three daughters were present for the ceremony, surrounded by other family members. The immersion was preceded by the collection of the ashes from Nigambodh Ghat earlier in the day.
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