No Problem Andika Perkasa At Bung Karno's Tomb In Blitar, Puan: Everyone Can Come For A Pilgrimage

PDIP DPP chairman Puan Maharani led the internal consolidation of winning the 2024 General Election at the PDIP DPC Office of Sukabumi Regency on Saturday, May 20. (doc. PDIP)

Chairman of the PDI-P (PDIP) DPP Puan Maharani did not question the arrival of former TNI Commander General (Ret.) Andika Perkasa on a pilgrimage to the grave of the 1st President of the Republic of Indonesia Soekarno in Blitar, East Java on Wednesday, June 21.

This was conveyed by Puan during the dirty rehearsal at the peak of Bung Karno's Month commemoration at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (GBK), Jakarta, Thursday, June 22. "Alhamdulillah that Bung Karno belongs to the nation, the Proclaimer. So everyone can come there for pilgrimages, prayers and others," said Puan to the media crew. According to him, Bung Karno is the proclaimer of the Republic of Indonesia. So, anyone can visit Soekarno's grave. Furthermore, the media crew also mentioned the signal of joining Andika as a PDIP cadre by visiting Soekarno's meal. Puan was reluctant to comment on that. He asked the media crew to ask directly to Andika Perkasa.

"Later ask Mr. Andika himself, 'Mr. Andika has become a PDIP cadre yet?" said Puan, quoted by Antara. Not only that, the media crew also had time to ask if the former TNI Commander also had a membership card (KTA). However, Puan was again reluctant to explain that. "Later, yes, 'Sir (Andika) already has a KTA yet?" he added. Previously, TNI General (Ret.) Andika Perkasa made a pilgrimage to coincide with the day Bung Karno died, as well as in the 53rd series of Haul Bung Karno events.

On this occasion, he was also accompanied by the Chairman of the PDI-P DPP who is also the former Mayor of Blitar Djarot Syaiful Hidayat, a member of the House of Representatives from the PDI-P faction Andreas Pareira, the Chairman of the Soekarno Education Foundation, Romy Hendra Rahtomo Soekarno, and the Chairman of the Soekarno Education Foundation, Dade Marhaendra. Pilgrimage activities to Bung Karno's grave are not the only time. Andika said that she was used to doing it from childhood. Andika also admitted that she had this habit apart from being a Blitar person, also because she admired the figure of the Proclaimer. He also often went back and forth to Bung Karno's grave in Blitar. Andika revealed that he has a strong emotional bond with Blitar City. His biological mother is a native of Blitar people. He also spent childhood until his youth in Blitar.