Thousands pay last respects to Jyoti Basu

Kolkata, Jan 19: Thousands of mourners and leaders from across political parties on Tuesday, Jan 19, paid their last respects to CPI-M patriarch Jyoti Basu.

Leaders, fans and followers poured into the West Bengal Assembly in Kolkata to pay homage to former cheif minister of the state, who passed away on Sunday, Jan 17.

Among those who showed up at the assembly premises were Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Earlier in the day, thousands of mourners filled the city's streets as Basu's body began its last journey.

Touching scenes were witnessed as the hearse carrying Basu's body, draped in the party's red flag, reached the CPI-M headquarters Muzaffar Ahmed Bhavan on Alimuddin Street.

All members of the politburo came out, their fists clenched in traditional communist salutes.

The body will be moved from the assembly for its final journey to the city's SSKM Hospital, where it will be handed over to the anatomy department.

There will be no religious ceremonies for the Marxist leader.

OneIndia News