New Delhi, 28 December 2024: The mortal remains of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were cremated at Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi on Saturday, with his eldest daughter, Upinder Singh, lighting the funeral pyre. The final rites were conducted with full state honors, attended by prominent leaders, foreign dignitaries, and a large number of well-wishers.
Among the attendees were President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They were joined by other key figures, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. “He was the architect of India’s economic reforms, and his contributions will remain etched in the country’s history,” Prime Minister Modi said, expressing profound respect for Singh’s legacy.
Foreign dignitaries paying tribute included King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan and Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful, who offered their condolences alongside Indian leaders.
Earlier, Singh’s final journey began from the AICC headquarters, where Congress leaders and party workers gathered to pay homage. The procession, marked by the chants of “Manmohan Singh amar rahe,” made its way to the crematorium with Rahul Gandhi accompanying the mourners.
Singh’s body, draped in the Tricolour and adorned with flowers, was placed on a raised platform at Nigambodh Ghat, where party leaders from across the political spectrum laid wreaths. Singh’s wife, Gursharan Kaur, and their daughter also paid their respects before the cremation.
Singh, 92, passed away on Thursday evening at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi after a prolonged illness. He served as Prime Minister of India for a decade, from 2004 to 2014, and is widely credited with steering the country’s economic reforms.
The Union Home Ministry has announced a seven-day national mourning period, during which the national flag will fly at half-mast in tribute to the late leader.
