Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was cremated with full state honours at Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi’s Kashmere Gate on Saturday, in the presence of his family, friends, colleagues, and government dignitaries.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid their last respects to the former PM by placing wreaths near his mortal remains earlier today.
The last rites were carried out at the VIP Ghat, in accordance with Sikh rituals. Dr. Singh’s mortal remains were placed on a pyre of sandalwood sticks.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, along with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, were also present at the cremation ceremony after paying tribute to the former Prime Minister.
The mortal remains of the former PM were brought to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi from his residence early on Saturday morning for party workers to pay their respects. Several people also gathered outside the residence of the former Prime Minister in Delhi to pay their tributes.
Paying tribute to the late Dr. Singh, Congress leader Madhusudan Mistry said that he made lifelong laws that benefited crores of people. “His demise is a loss for everyone,” he added.
Congress leader Mumtaz Patel said, “Today, India has lost a great man. He was not just a good leader, but also a very good human being. People called him a weak Prime Minister, but that was wrong. He always worked for the country; he was a strong and kind person.”
“Today is a very poignant moment. A very fine person, a renowned economist, a world statesperson, is no longer with us today… It is a sad day not only for India but for the world… He lived a very noble and simple life… May his soul rest in peace…”, Congress MP Manish Tewari said.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday praised Dr. Singh for bringing many “revolutions” during his tenure as Prime Minister of India. He reiterated the words spoken by the former PM, saying that the media and opposition will have to remember him.
Earlier, after the Cabinet meeting on Friday, Home Minister Amit Shah communicated to Congress President Kharge and the family of late Manmohan Singh that the Government would allocate space for the memorial. In the meantime, cremation and other formalities could proceed because a trust has to be formed and space allocated to it.
Dr. Singh’s political career spanned several decades, with notable positions, including Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996, during which he spearheaded economic reforms that transformed India’s economy. He served as the 13th Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014, succeeding Atal Bihari Vajpayee. His tenure is particularly remembered for his steady leadership during economic crises and his contributions to modernising India’s economy.
After his second term, Dr. Singh retired from public life, having led India through a period of unprecedented growth and international recognition. He was succeeded by Narendra Modi in 2014 after the Congress-led UPA lost the general elections.