Surjeet to be cremated on August 3

New Delhi, Aug 3: Veteran communist and CPI(M) patriarch Harkishan Singh Surjeet, who passed away on Friday, July 1, will be cremated with full state honours at 1700 hrs at the Nigambodh Ghat crematorium here on Sunday, August 3 evening.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is away in Colombo to attend the 15th SAARC Summit, is also expected to attend the cremation as he is likely to go to the crematorium ground directly from the airport. CPI(M) senior leader Nilotpal Basu told the sources that Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi might visit the CPI(M) headquarters A K Gopalan Bhawan between 0930 and 1500 hrs, where comrade Surjeet's mortal remains will be kept for the 'antim darshan'.

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and senior party leader Jyoti Basu are also expected to attend the funeral.

Meanwhile, the body of Surjeet, wrapped in the party's flag, was kept at 8, Teen Murti Lane Marg this morning between 0700 to 0900 hrs. The body was later brought to the party headquarters.

Surjeet's funeral procession will start at 1500 hrs from the party headquarters.

The veteran CPI(M) leader died of cardiac arrest at the Metro hospital in Noida.

UNI