Article: There should be politics of respect, politics does not suit memories, why different from tradition?

Author: Anil Sinha
Hardly anyone would have guessed that the issue of cremation and mausoleum of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would turn into a big political controversy. This case has not only exposed the narrow-mindedness of Indian politics, but has also added to the ongoing conflict between the ruling party and the opposition. Congress is angry that the mortal remains of the former Prime Minister had to be cremated at Nigambodh Ghat. Till now, the last rites of former Prime Ministers have taken place near Rajghat in Delhi. The Manmohan Singh government had designated a national memorial site near Rajghat for cremation and Samadhi.Government’s reluctance
Such decisions are routine and should not have been delayed, nor should they have deviated from tradition. There is no promptness in providing space for the mausoleum. The government agreed, but there is reluctance. The kind of respect and promptness shown to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is missing here. A trust will first have to be formed for the space, which should include family members. This is a national responsibility, then why such bureaucratic hurdles in fulfilling it?

lack of respect
In this entire matter, the same squabble between BJP and Congress has happened, which happens on almost every issue. Barring some special periods, especially the Emergency, such disagreement has never existed before the Modi government. Respect becomes the basis of consent. he/she is no longer visible anywhere.

false accusation
BJP is propagating that Congress has been insulting Manmohan Singh and is now raising the issue of Samadhi for political gains. Similarly, she is alleging Congress’ alleged disrespectful attitude towards the memories of PV Narasimha Rao after his/her death. The party says that the Gandhi family did not give respect to anyone outside itself. But, these allegations are not logical. There are memorial places of Chaudhary Charan Singh and Jagjivan Ram near Rajghat. Both were associated with politics that was strongly opposed to Congress and Indira Gandhi. It is the Congress governments that have given their memorial sites.

reply on rao
As far as the insult to former PM Narasimha Rao is concerned, Congress says that he/she was given full respect and Hyderabad was chosen as the funeral venue only for his/her farewell as ‘Telugu Bidda’. This decision was taken by the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Rajashekhar Reddy after consulting former PM’s son Prabhakar Rao.

accept the truth
Political parties should openly accept the politics of memories. Is BJP’s objective behind awarding Bharat Ratna to PV Narasimha Rao and building his/her memorial not political? Certainly she sees in him/her the face of an opponent of the Gandhi family.

matter of sensitivity
The best example of how people’s sentiments are linked to memories is the memorial of Bhagat Singh and his/her comrades in Hussainiwala on the India-Pakistan border. It was here that the last rites of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru took place after their hanging. This village, situated on the banks of Sutlej, went to Pakistan after partition. The people of India wanted to have this place with them. The Indian government made an agreement in 1961, under which we got that village and in return we gave 12 villages to Pakistan.

Intention not policy
There is no need for any national policy to build monuments. All that has to be kept in mind is that people’s feelings are taken care of. Whatever may have been the publicity about Manmohan Singh, in the reactions received after his/her death he/she has emerged as the megastar of economic reforms. The government will have to take this into account while deciding on his/her burial site.

(The author is a senior journalist)