Harkishan Singh Surjeet's funeral to take place today

New Delhi, Aug 3 : The funeral of veteran CPI (M) leader, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, will take place today at the Nigambodh Ghat at 5 p.m.

The funeral procession will start at 3 p.m. His body will be kept at the CPI (M) headquarters and people will be allowed to pay their last respects to the departed leader from 10 a.m.

Surjeet passed away on Friday. He was 92.

He was admitted at the Metro Hospital in Noida where he was treated for respiratory problems. Earlier, he had slipped into coma.

The veteran CPI (M) leader was suffering from cardiac-respiratory problems.

With his health declining, Surjeet was, for the first time, not included in the CPI (M) Polit Bureau at the party's 19th congress in early April 2008. He was instead designated as Special Invitee to the Central Committee.

He was the General Secretary of the CPI (M) from 1992 to 2005 and was a member of the party's Polit Bureau from 1964 to 2008.

After retiring from his post as General Secretary, Surjeet continued to play an active role in politics.

ANI