(AFP photo)
NEW DELHI: Former President Pranab Mukherjee was cremated with full state honors at the Lodhi Road electric crematorium on Tuesday afternoon. While her son performed the last rites, her family and relatives paid their respects dressed in PPE suits, in accordance with Covid-19 safeguards.
An Army contingent offered an honor guard and a firearms salute to the thirteenth president of India who died Monday night after a three-week battle with multiple ailments.
Mukherjee’s mortal remains were kept at his 10 Rajaji Marg residence for people to pay homage to him. President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the heads of the three defense services, and politicians who cross party lines paid their final respects to the former president.
Crowds of politicians and others also came to his residence to pay homage to the Bharat Ratna. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, President of Lok Sabha Om Birla, Former Head of Congress Rahul gandhi, Head of BJP JP Nadda, Head of RSS Mohan bhagwatAmong them were the Prime Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, and several Union ministers, including Nirmala Sitharaman and Harsh Vardhan.
Workers from various parties and people from all walks of life lined up in long lines maintaining social distancing, wearing masks and bouquets of flowers as they patiently waited to catch a glimpse of Mukherjee one last time.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Defense Chief of Staff General Bipin Rawat, Army Chief General MM Naravane, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, and Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh, visited Pranab’s home to mourn his death.
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