The ministry, in a statement on Friday night said Centre received a request from the Congress Party President Mallikarjun Kharge, earlier in the day, to allocate a space for a memorial for Dr Manmohan Singh.
“Immediately after the Cabinet meeting, Home Minister Amit Shah communicated to Congress President Kharge and the family of Dr Manmohan Singh that the government will allocate space for the memorial. In the meanwhile cremation and other formalities can happen because a trust has to be formed and space has to be allocated to it,” the statement said.
Dr Singh died on Thursday, December 26, at the age of 92 years. His funeral is being held on Saturday, December 28. His mortal remains are at the AICC headquarters till 9.30 am for the public and Congress party workers to pay their respects, following which the funeral procession will begin. The last rites are scheduled to be held at 11.45 am at Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi. The funeral is being held with full State honours.
India is observing seven-day state mourning till January 1. All flags are flying half-mast and the government is not hosting any official entertainment events during this period.
Dr Singh’s family is overseeing the final arrangements, while the government is closely invovled in the process to ensure the appropriate protocols are followed for a former Prime Minister.
