Indus Valley Times

NEW DELHI, DEC 28 : 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 Singh left the Congress headquarters in a procession amid chants of “Manmohan Singh Amar Rahe”.

Singh’s mortal remains were taken to the AICC headquarters from his residence on 3, Motilal Nehru Road a little before 9 AM.

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.

Singh’s wife Gursharan Kaur and one of his daughters also laid a wreath on his body and paid their last respects.

Gursharan Kaur, wife of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, pays her last respects to him, at AICC headquarters, in New Delhi, Saturday, Dec. 28.

Gursharan Kaur, wife of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, pays her last respects to him, at AICC headquarters, in New Delhi, Saturday, Dec. 28.(Photo | PTI)

Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and several ex-Union ministers were among those who paid tributes to the former PM.

Congress general secretaries K C Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar, and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu were also there.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge pays his last respects to former prime minister Manmohan Singh, at AICC headquarters, in New Delhi.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge pays his last respects to former prime minister Manmohan Singh, at AICC headquarters, in New Delhi.(Photo | PTI)

Meanwhile, the funeral preparations were given final touches at the Nigambodh Ghat where the last rites of former the prime minister would be performed at 11.45 am with full state honours.

In light of the state funeral, traffic officials have issued advisory implementing key diversions and restrictions in place from 7 am to 3 pm across the city.

Singh passed away on Thursday night at Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences due to age-related medical complications. He was 92.

Considered the architect of India’s economic reforms, 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.

-PTI