Manmohan Singh‍‍`s final farewell: A full state funeral and emotional tributes

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was given a full state funeral on Saturday, marking the end of a remarkable life dedicated to serving India.

His body was first placed at the Congress headquarters in Delhi, where leaders from Congress and other political parties gathered to pay their respects. 

Later, his remains were taken to Nigambodh Ghat, on the banks of the Yamuna River, where his final rites were performed with full state honors, according to Anandabazar Online.

Among those present at the funeral were Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and other prominent Congress leaders.

The ceremony also saw high-profile leaders from the BJP, including President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, BJP President JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. 

Other political figures, including TMC leaders Sudip Bandopadhyay and Malay Ghatak, also visited the Congress office in the morning to honor the late leader.

A special tribute was paid by Bhutan’s Prime Minister, Shering Tobgay, who traveled to India to honor Manmohan Singh. 

In a gesture of respect, Bhutan’s government decided to fly its flag at half-mast at all its diplomatic missions in India. 

Mauritius also joined in this tribute, ordering its embassies and consulates to keep their flags lowered until sunset on the day of the funeral.

The decision about where Manmohan Singh’s funeral should be held sparked a dispute between Congress and the central government. 

Congress had been opposed to holding the funeral at Nigambodh Ghat, preferring instead a spot near Raj Ghat along the Yamuna, where memorials for figures like Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee are located. 

Congress leaders questioned whether any former Prime Minister’s funeral had ever taken place at Nigambodh Ghat, calling it an unsuitable location for building a memorial.

In response to the controversy, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a statement late Thursday evening. 

The central government assured that a site would be allocated for Manmohan Singh‍‍`s memorial, though the process would take some time. 

The government said that a final decision about the memorial would be made after the funeral and other official ceremonies had been completed.

Manmohan Singh’s death has been a huge loss, and his final farewell was a moment of deep reflection for the country he served with distinction for so many years. 

His life, and now his memorial, will be remembered with respect by leaders and citizens alike.