New Delhi, Dec 28: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s remains were cremated at Nigambodh Ghat on Saturday, surrounded by the chanting of religious hymns. His eldest daughter, Upinder Singh, lit the funeral pyre.
The ceremony was attended by prominent leaders including President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with several other high-ranking officials and international dignitaries.
Notably, the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, and Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful also paid their respects.
In addition to President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Opposition leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi were present to honor the former Prime Minister.
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and the chiefs of the armed services also paid their final respects.
The procession carrying Singh’s remains arrived at the crematorium around 11:30 am for the final rites.
Draped in the national flag and adorned with flowers, his casket was placed on a raised platform where leaders from all parties laid wreaths.
Earlier that morning, Singh’s final journey began at the AICC headquarters, where Congress leaders gathered to pay homage. The procession was marked by chants of “Manmohan Singh amar rahe” as it moved along.
Many Congress followers, alongside Rahul Gandhi and Singh’s relatives, participated in the procession, chanting “Jab tak suraj chand rahega, tab tak tera naam rahega.”
The vehicle carrying Singh’s remains departed from his residence at 3 Motilal Nehru Road shortly before 9 am. It was displayed at the AICC headquarters for an hour, receiving tributes from key party figures, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi. Singh’s wife, Gursharan Kaur, and one of their daughters also placed a wreath on his body.
Singh passed away on Thursday night at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi due to age-related complications; he was 92 years old.
Widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reforms, Singh served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014 for a decade.
The Union Home Ministry has announced a seven-day national mourning period in his honor, during which the national flag will be flown at half-mast across the country. (PTI)
