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The controversy began when Sharmistha Mukherjee claimed Congress did not bother for a CWC meeting after Pranab Mukherjee’s death in 2020. Her brother Abhijit said COVID-19 curbs were in place.
A feud has developed between Sharmistha and Abhijit Mukherjee over Congress denying CWC meet for their father and ex-President Pranab Mukherjee. (Agencies)
Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee made a sharp comment towards her brother Abhijit Mukherjee for defending Congress, igniting a family feud in connection with ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s memorial.
The controversy began after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a separate memorial for Manmohan Singh, who passed away at the age of 92 on December 26.
Sharmistha Mukherjee claimed that when her father and former Indian President died in 2020, the Congress did not bother to convene a condolence meeting by the Congress Working Committee. According to her, a senior leader of the Congress told her that it is not for Indian Presidents.
When baba passed away, Congress didnt even bother 2 call CWC 4 condolence meeting. A senior leader told me it’s not done 4 Presidents. Thats utter rubbish as I learned later from baba’s diaries that on KR Narayanan’s death, CWC was called & condolence msg was drafted by baba only https://t.co/nbYCF7NsMB— Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) December 27, 2024
However, her brother Abhijit Mukherjee had a remarkably different reaction to the issue, who asserted that COVID-19 curbs were in place during Pranab Mukherjee’s demise in 2020. Pranab Mukherjee had passed away at the age of 84 after testing positive for COVID-19.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Abhijit Mukherjee defended the Congress by saying, “When my father died, it was COVID-19 time. There were a lot of restrictions in place which is why people could not gather. Even (Then-Delhi CM Arvind) Kejriwal’s administration did not allow even family members to visit. Only 20 family and friends were present there.”
“Congress wanted to take out a rally but they could not (due to COVID-19) but they came and visited. Even PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi and senior leaders came,” he said. “I think what she (Sharmistha) is referring to is that there was a CWC meeting when they missed a proper obituary, or there was no separate CWC meeting for his obituary. But later on, they corrected this course of action and did it regularly.”
Reacting sharply to her brother’s remarks, Sharmistha took to X and said, “Shame is on the person who, for some petty crumbs, wants to rejoin a party whose followers abuse his father day-in & day-out in the most vilest manner.”
“He is truly ‘dented-painted’. SICK!”, she commented, referring to Abhijit’s controversial “dented and painted” remarks aimed towards protests over the Nirbhaya gangrape case in 2012, which sparked widespread outrage. Sharmistha also attached screenshots, where Abhijit had reportedly claimed earlier that his father was “humiliated” by the Congress.
Sharing his mind over the controversy surrounding Manmohan Singh’s cremation, Mukherjee said, “I don’t think there should be a controversy. We want a memorial (for him). I appeal to the government and fully endorse Congress President Mallikarjun’s appeal to the govt, they should think about it.”