New Delhi [India], December 28: Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, paid his final respects to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Nigam Bodh Ghat, where his last rites will be performed. Gandhi also laid a wreath on Singh’s mortal remains.
Sonia Gandhi, the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) leader, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge followed suit, laying wreaths to honor Singh. Several other Congress leaders were present at the site for the ceremony.
The mortal remains of Manmohan Singh, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 92 at AIIMS due to age-related health issues, were brought to Nigam Bodh Ghat in New Delhi’s Kashmere Gate. The state funeral with full honors will be conducted in the presence of dignitaries, including President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Acharya Yogesh Kumar Sharma, overseeing the rituals, confirmed that they would be performed using sandalwood sticks and in accordance with Sikh traditions. “The rituals will be performed at the VIP Ghat, with prominent leaders including the President, Vice President, and Prime Minister present for the homage,” Sharma told.
Singh’s illustrious political career spanned decades. As Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996, he led transformative economic reforms, and he served as the 13th Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014. His leadership was marked by steady guidance during economic crises and his significant contributions to modernizing India’s economy. After retiring from public life in 2014, Singh’s legacy remains a significant chapter in India’s political history.