President Droupadi Murmu pays last respects to former PM Manmohan Singh

New Delhi [India], December 28 (ANI): President Droupadi Murmu paid last respects to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Nigam Bodh Ghat here on Saturday.
Top leaders of the country including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi are attending Manmohan Singh's last rites.
The state funeral took place with full military honours at Nigam Bodh Ghat.
Acharya Yogesh Kumar Sharma said that rituals for the cremation ceremony will be performed using sandalwood sticks and the last rites will be performed as per the Sikh rituals.
"The rituals will be performed using sandalwood sticks... The last rites will be performed as per Sikh rituals at the VIP Ghat. Those who are coming for the last rites will reach here including the President, Vice President and Prime Minister. Homage will be offered to him once everyone arrives," Sharma told ANI earlier.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid their last respects to Manmohan Singh.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge along with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi paid their last respects to the former Prime Minister.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar also paid tributes to the former Prime Minister.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president and Union Health Minister JP Nadda paid his last respects to the former Prime Minister.
Manmohan Singh, 92, passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here on Thursday evening.
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 modernizing 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. (ANI)