Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter reacts as Congress MP links memorial site to RSS: 'Are they such fools that...'
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Sharmistha Mukherjee posed a few questions to the Opposition partyA day after Congress MP Danish Ali accused the BJP-led central government of indulging into “dirty politics” over its decision to set up a memorial for former president Pranab Mukherjee, the former President’s daughter, Sharmistha Mukherjee, has reacted to the charges.
In a social media post on X, Ali alleged that the decision by the government was a gift to Pranab Mukherjee “for his love” for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). “Pranab Mukherjee had bowed his head at the Nagpur headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and conferred the title of Dhartiputra on Sangh founder Hedgewar. Mukherjee had also played an important role in getting Savarkar's picture installed in the Parliament House,” he said.
On being asked about this, Sharmistha Mukherjee posed a few questions to the Opposition party. “Congress should have come out with something better. Firstly, the question goes to them – that if Pranab Mukherjee was an RSS agent -- why was he allowed to be a stalwart leader of Congress for 45 years? Are Congress high command – starting from Indira Gandhi to Sonia Gandhi – such fools that in 45 years they could not make out that Pranab Mukherjee is an RSS agent? My father passed away over four years back. If this memorial is linked with his RSS visit, why would the government wait for four years?” she said in conversation with CNN-News18.
Expressing gratitude towards the Prime Minister for the memorial, she said that her father and Modi shared a genuine bond which was beyond politics. “One thing I was most touched about is that my father always used to say that state honours cannot ever be demanded or asked for. He has always said it should be offered. As a family, we never made any kind of demand or wrote to the PMO for creation of his memorial. It was an initiative undertaken by the Government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” she said.
On Tuesday, Sharmistha Mukherjee met PM Modi and thanked him for honouring her father.
"The Competent Authority has approved the earmarking of a designated site within the 'Rashtriya Smriti' complex (a part of the Rajghat precinct) for erecting a Samadhi of Late Shri Pranab Mukherjee, former President of India," the government said in a letter to Sharmistha Mukherjee informing her of the decision.
Mukherjee's memorial comes in the wake of demands by the Congress for having a memorial for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who died at AIIMS at the age of 92 on December 26.
Moneycontrol News first published: Jan 8, 2025 02:22 pmDiscover the latest business news, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
Sharmistha Mukherjee posed a few questions to the Opposition party
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