New Delhi, July 9 (UNI) Former Prime Minister and veteran socialist leader Chandra Shekhar was cremated with full state honours at the Ekta Sthal near Rajghat this evening.
The flower-bedecked body of the octogenarian leader, who died yesterday, was taken in a huge procession from his official South Avenue residence to the cremation site on the banks of river Yamuna.
A 21-gun salute was given to the departed leader. The final rites were performed by his two sons Pankaj and Neeraj.
Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee, V P Singh, H D Deve Gowda and I K Gujral were among those present at the cremation.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani, Central Ministers Lalu Prasad, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Jaipal Reddy, Sharad Pawar and leaders of various political parties like Rajnath Singh, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Amar Singh and Ashok Gehlot were also present.
Scores of people from his Ballia parliamentary constituency also thronged the cremation grounds. As the pyre was lit, chants of ''Chandra Shekhar Amar Rahe'' (Long live Chandra Shekhar) rented the air.
All Government offices in the Capital were closed after the lunch recess today to enable people to attend the cremation.
As a mark of respect to the departed leader, the national flag will fly at half-mast for seven days (till July 14) to observe state mourning.
UNI
The flower-bedecked body of the octogenarian leader, who died yesterday, was taken in a huge procession from his official South Avenue residence to the cremation site on the banks of river Yamuna.
A 21-gun salute was given to the departed leader. The final rites were performed by his two sons Pankaj and Neeraj.
Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee, V P Singh, H D Deve Gowda and I K Gujral were among those present at the cremation.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani, Central Ministers Lalu Prasad, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Jaipal Reddy, Sharad Pawar and leaders of various political parties like Rajnath Singh, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Amar Singh and Ashok Gehlot were also present.
Scores of people from his Ballia parliamentary constituency also thronged the cremation grounds. As the pyre was lit, chants of ''Chandra Shekhar Amar Rahe'' (Long live Chandra Shekhar) rented the air.
All Government offices in the Capital were closed after the lunch recess today to enable people to attend the cremation.
As a mark of respect to the departed leader, the national flag will fly at half-mast for seven days (till July 14) to observe state mourning.
UNI
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