Last Rites of Former PM Manmohan Singh to Take Place Today with Full State Honours

New Delhi, January 1 - The last rites of renowned economist and two-time Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be held today in the capital, accompanied by full state honours, as tributes pour in from across the nation.
The funeral procession is scheduled to begin from the Congress headquarters at 9:30 AM, with Singh's body being transported to Nigambodh Ghat crematorium for the last rites. A seven-day period of national mourning has been declared by the central government, lasting until January 1, during which the national flag will be flown at half-mast across the country.
In light of the state funeral, authorities have issued a traffic advisory, implementing diversions in key areas, including Raja Ram Kohli Marg and Rajghat Red Light. Restrictions will be in place on several roads from 7 AM to 3 PM. A half-day holiday has also been observed in all central government offices and public sector undertakings today.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge have expressed their condolences over Singh's demise. Chief ministers, foreign dignitaries, including French President Emmanuel Macron and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, also paid their final respects at Singh's residence in New Delhi on Friday.
The Congress party has requested the central government to designate a specific site for a memorial in Singh's honour. The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Modi, termed Singh as an "eminent statesman and distinguished leader." In a video message, Modi reflected on Singh's journey, highlighting his contributions to India's development and legacy of honesty and simplicity.
Singh served as Prime Minister from 2004, with his leadership marking significant economic growth and advancements in social welfare and infrastructure. The nation mourns the loss of a dedicated leader who guided the country through a financial crisis in 1991.
As tributes pour in from across the world, Singh's contribution to India's economic liberalisation has been hailed by experts. His work as Finance Minister during the early 1990s laid the groundwork for the country’s economic overhaul, earning him a place among the nation's great economists.