A political controversy erupted just hours before former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s last rites on Saturday, as the BJP accused the Congress of engaging in "dirty politics" over a proposed memorial in his honor. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, requesting the establishment of a memorial at the site of Dr. Singh's cremation. Kharge argued this would align with traditions of honoring statesmen and former prime ministers at their funeral sites.

In response, the Centre announced that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had approved allocating a place for Dr. Singh’s memorial, ensuring the cremation and other formalities could proceed. However, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized the Centre’s delay in identifying a site, describing it as an insult to India’s first Sikh prime minister.

The BJP countered by accusing the Congress of politicizing the issue. In a statement, the party highlighted Congress’s alleged mistreatment of former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and referenced a tweet from Pranab Mukherjee's daughter about the Congress's disrespect towards the late president.

Manmohan Singh, who served as prime minister from 2004 to 2014, also held roles as the Reserve Bank of India Governor and finance minister under PV Narasimha Rao. He passed away on Thursday at AIIMS Delhi at the age of 92.

Dr. Singh's mortal remains will be kept at the AICC headquarters for public homage from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Saturday before his funeral procession to Nigambodh Ghat, where his last rites will be conducted with full state honors at 11:45 a.m.