New Delhi, Dec 28: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was cremated with full state honours on Saturday at Nigambodh Ghat, with top dignitaries from India and abroad in attendance. Singh, who passed away on December 26 at the age of 92, was remembered by political leaders, family, and admirers.
His eldest daughter, Upinder Singh, lit the funeral pyre, while religious hymns were chanted. The last rites were conducted in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside prominent Congress leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi.
Foreign dignitaries paying their respects included Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan, and Dhananjay Ramful, the Foreign Minister of Mauritius. Singh, who served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, was also honored by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who all laid wreaths on his mortal remains. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, along with the heads of India’s three armed services, also paid their tributes.
Before the last rites, a 21-gun salute was fired in honor of the former PM. Sikh priests and family members recited verses from the Gurbani as part of the ceremony. Singh’s final journey began at the Congress headquarters, where party leaders and workers paid their last respects. His body was transported in a flower-decked vehicle, and supporters followed the procession to Nigambodh Ghat, chanting slogans of remembrance and calling for Singh to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor.
At the Congress headquarters, the body was displayed for an hour, allowing workers to bid farewell. Leaders such as Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi, along with Singh's family, laid wreaths both at the headquarters and later at Nigambodh Ghat. His wife, Gursharan Kaur, and their daughters were also present.
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, participated in the procession and was among those who carried Singh's body to the pyre.
