In an interview with India Today, Mukherjee expressed her concerns, stating, "As an ordinary, concerned citizen of the country, I would definitely like to question Rahul Gandhi on why, when the nation was mourning the death of a Prime Minister, who was a stalwart of his own party, did he have to take off for a foreign trip to celebrate New Year's?"
Manmohan Singh, who served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, passed away on December 26 at the age of 92. His death prompted a wave of condolences and a period of national mourning. Mukherjee highlighted that during such times, it is customary for political leaders to stand in solidarity with the bereaved family and the nation.
She further criticized the absence of senior Congress leaders during the collection of Singh's remains after his cremation. "This is a time when the party should have strongly stood behind the former Prime Minister's family," Mukherjee remarked. She drew a parallel to her own experience, noting that when her father passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic, she received individual condolences from party leaders, and their physical absence was understandable due to health restrictions. However, she emphasized that currently, there are no such restrictions preventing leaders from paying their respects in person.
The controversy gained momentum when BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Rahul Gandhi of disrespecting Manmohan Singh's legacy by choosing to travel abroad during the mourning period. Poonawalla stated, "While the country is mourning Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's demise, Rahul Gandhi has flown abroad to bring in the New Year even as the nation observes seven days of mourning. Congress doesn't care for Dr. Manmohan Singh. They abused and insulted him during his lifetime."
In response to the criticism, Congress clarified that the decision regarding the presence of party leaders during the funeral rites was made in consultation with Singh's family, aiming to respect their privacy. However, this explanation has not quelled the concerns raised by Mukherjee and others.
Mukherjee also addressed comments made by Congress MP Danish Ali, who linked the government's decision to establish a memorial for Pranab Mukherjee to his alleged affinity for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). She dismissed these remarks as baseless and indicative of a lack of understanding of her father's political legacy. She emphasized that her father held significant responsibilities within the Congress party over 45 years, entrusted by leaders like Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, questioning the logic behind associating him with the RSS.