India bids adieu to Manmohan Singh; former PM cremated with full state honours

India mourned as the last rites of Manmohan Singh, the county’s two-time Prime Minister, were performed with full state honours in New Delhi on Saturday, ending an era in Indian politics.

Singh, who passed away on Thursday night at the age of 92, was given a gun salute.

His funeral was conducted by following Sikh traditions.

Draped in Indian the Indian national flag, Singh’s body was carried through the national capital on a flower-decked carriage on its way to the funeral site.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi were amongst those who paid their final tribute to the man, who was one of the longest serving Prime Ministers of India.

Singh’s mortal remains were taken from his residence to Congress headquarters at 9 am.

His final journey started from Congress’ headquarters later and reached the crematorium at 11:30 pm.

Slogans of “Manmohan Singh Amar Rahe” (long live Manmohan Singh) filled the air.

Before becoming the PM, Singh served as India’s Finance Minister, as well as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.

He rose to prominence as the FM during the Congress regime headed by PV Narasimha Rao from 1991 to 1996, for bringing sweeping reforms that transformed the economy.

As the two-term UPA Prime Minister, he stayed at the top post from 2004 to 2014 and served as a member of the Rajya Sabha till early this year.

He retired from the Rajya Sabha in April.