News Delhi, December 28:
The mortal remains of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were brought to Delhi’s Nigambodh Ghat crematorium for his last rites on Saturday.
The procession, which carried Singh’s remains, reached the crematorium around 11:30 AM, where the final rites were soon to be performed.
Earlier in the day, Singh’s final journey began from the AICC headquarters, where Congress leaders paid their tributes. The flower-adorned vehicle transporting Singh’s remains departed from the Congress headquarters amidst chants of “Manmohan Singh amar rahe.”
A large crowd of Congress supporters, along with many well-wishers of Singh, walked behind the procession, echoing the slogan “Jab tak suraj chand rahega, tab tak tera naam rahega.” Former Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, joined the procession along with Singh’s family members.
The remains were briefly kept at the AICC headquarters, where top Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi, paid their respects. Singh’s wife, Gursharan Kaur, and one of his daughters also placed a wreath on his body in a final tribute.
Dr. Singh, 92, passed away on Thursday night at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi due to age-related health issues.
In a separate development, the Congress had demanded that Singh’s funeral be held at a location where a memorial could be built, calling the current arrangement a “deliberate insult to the first Sikh Prime Minister of India.”
In response, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) confirmed on Friday that space will be allocated for a memorial dedicated to Dr. Singh. Union Home Minister Amit Shah communicated this decision to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge after the Cabinet meeting.
A seven-day period of national mourning will be observed across India in honor of the former Prime Minister, with the national flag being flown at half-mast during this time, as announced by the MHA.
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