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Manmohan Singh funeral: India mourns as former PM cremated with full state honours at Delhi's Nigambodh Ghat
Manmohan Singh funeral: The mortal remains of former PM Manmohan Singh were consigned to flames at Nigam Bodh Ghat in New Delhi.
Manmohan Singh, former prime minister widely regarded as the architect of India's economic reform programme, was cremated with full state honours Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi on Saturday afternoon.
Manmohan Singh's daughter lit his funeral pyre at the crematorium in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and top Congress leaders.
The final journey of former prime minister Manmohan Singh began from the AICC headquarters on Saturday morning after Congress leaders paid homage to their departed leader.
The flower-bedecked vehicle carrying the mortal remains of Manmohan Singh left the Congress headquarters in a procession amid chants of “Manmohan Singh Amar Rahe”.
Manmohan Singh's funeral: 10 points
- Manmohan Singh's funeral was conducted in the Sikh tradition as priests chanted hymns, after his body, draped in the Indian flag, was carried through the capital on a flower-decked carriage pulled by a ceremonial army truck.
- The flag was removed and the body covered with a saffron cloth before it was placed on the pyre.
- Singh's mortal remains were taken to the AICC headquarters from his residence on 3 Motilal Nehru Road, a little before 9am.
- The mortal remains were kept inside the AICC headquarters for about an hour, with several top leaders of the Congress, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, paying their last respects, among others.
- Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur, and one of his daughters also laid a wreath on his body and paid their last respects.
6. Defence minister Rajnath Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Leaders of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi were among the top leaders who paid their last tributes to the former prime minister.
7. Chief of defence staff general Anil Chauhan, and the three services chiefs also paid their last respects to Manmohan Singh.
8. Considered the architect of India's economic reforms, Singh served as the prime minister for 10 years between 2004 and 2014.
9. PM Narendra Modi, who called Manmohan Singh one of the nation's “most distinguished leaders” after his death, attended the funeral, along with President Droupadi Murmu and representatives of various countries. Modi's government has decided to allocate land for Singh's memorial.
10. The leaders of the US, Canada, France, Sri Lanka, China and Pakistan were among those expressing grief at Singh's death and highlighting his international contributions.
Manmohan Singh's death
Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday night at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences due to age-related medical complications. He was 92.
Singh served as the prime minister for 10 years between 2004 and 2014.
A seven-day national mourning is being observed throughout the country as a mark of respect to the former prime minister during which the national flag will be flown at half-mast across the nation, the Union home ministry has announced.
