Nation bids emotional adieu to former PM Chandra Shekhar

New Delhi, July 9 (UNI) The nation today bid an emotional adieu to former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar who was cremated with full state honours at the Ekta Sthal near Rajghat this evening.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led leaders from across the political spectrum in paying last respects to the octogenarian leader.

The mortal remains of the veteran socialist leader were consigned to flames by his sons Pankaj Singh and Neeraj Singh at the cremation site on the banks of river Yamuna, with his family members and residents of his native village Ballia present in huge numbers.

Shouts of 'Chandra Shekhar Amar Rahe" (Long live Chandra Shekhar) rent the air as hundreds of his followers and votaries of his unique brand of socialism bid a tearful farewell to their favourite leader.

The ceremony was performed with traditional Hindu rituals.

A 21-gun salute was given as a mark of respect to the departed leader with the band of the three defence services playing in the background.

Earlier, political leaders of all hues led by Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Dr Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee, V P Singh, H D Deve Gowda and I K Gujral paid floral tributes to the socialist leader's flower-bedecked body.

Among others present at the cremation were leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani, Central Ministers Lalu Prasad, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Jaipal Reddy, Shivraj Patil and Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, the party general secretary Amar Singh, Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, BJP president Rajnath Singh, party leaders and former Union Ministers Shahnawaz Hussain, Jaswant Singh and Yashwant Sinha and former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana.

The body of the octogenarian leader, who died yesterday of Cancer at Apollo hospital, was taken in a huge procession from his official South Avenue residence to the cremation site.

The funeral procession, which started from South Avenue at 1600 hours,passed through Tyagraj Marg, Rajaji Marg, K Kamraj Marg, Sunehari Masjid, Maulana Azad Road, Akbar Road, Tilak Marg, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, Delhi Gate Crossing, Rajghat Crossing, Mahatma Gandhi Marg (Ring Road), Shanti Van Chowk (Ring Road) before entering the Samadhi area.

Traffic blockades were erected throughout the route of the procession. Also, there was a heavy security bandobast at the Bahadur Shah Zafar marg and Ring road along Rajghat and Shanti Van.

Tight security arrangements were also made at Ekta Sthal, the venue of the cremation.

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