Former PM Manmohan Singh cremated with full state honours

The last rites were performed in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among other top leaders and foreign dignitaries.

New Delhi: India bid a tearful adieu to one of its illustrious former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday, as his mortal remains were consigned to flames at the Nigambodh Ghat with full state honours amid the chanting of religious hymns.

His eldest daughter Upinder Singh lit the funeral pyre as his admirers chanted 'Manmohan Singh Amar Rahe' (Long Live, Manmohan Singh) and 'Jab Tak Suraj Chand Rahega, Tab Tak tera naam Rahega' (Till Sun and Moon Remain, your name will also remain).

As Singh was laid to rest, Congress and BJP leaders sparred over allegations of the government not allotting a space for cremation where a memorial could be built. The Ministry of Home Affairs said it had on Friday itself informed Congress president Mallikarjun space for a memorial would be allocated.

Several Congress leaders criticised the government for its decision saying it would have been befitting to Singh’s stature if a memorial is built at the place where he was cremated, while the BJP leaders alleged that the Opposition party was playing politics when the MHA has clarified the matter.

Singh’s last rites were performed by Sikh priests in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful were among the foreign dignitaries who paid their tributes to Singh. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and the three services chiefs also paid their last respects to Singh.

Draped in the tricolour, the flower-bedecked casket was brought to Nigambodh Ghat at 11:30 am in a procession from Congress headquarters. At the Nigambodh Ghat, the mortal remains were placed at a raised platform to enable leaders cutting across party lines to lay wreaths.

Top Congress leaders and his family, including wife Gursharan Kaur, were at the Congress headquarters before the mortal remains were taken out in a procession. Rahul was in the open vehicle carrying the mortal remains along with Singh's relatives. Congress Chief Ministers Siddaramaiah and A Revanth Reddy were also seen with Rahul.

The mortal remains were earlier brought to Congress headquarters in the morning from Singh's residence 3, Motilal Nehru Marg to enable Congress workers to pay their tributes to former PM, who breathed his last on Thursday at the age of 92. Kaur and one of his daughters also reached the Congress headquarters on 24, Akbar Road to place a wreath where top Congress leaders were present.