Farewell, Manmohan Singh. Last Rites Begin, Nation Pays Tribute

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last rites with full state honors at Delhi's NigambodhGhat today. Manmohan Singh funeral is memorable for Indians. Manmohan Singh's body was later taken to party headquarters and from there to the cremation ground.As a markof respect, the National flag will be at half-mast and seven-day state mourning has been declared across the country. The Congress also cancelled its official events, including its Foundation Day on January 3.

A controversy between the Centre and the Congress over the site for a Manmohan Singh memorial. The Congress had previously stated that this site in NigambodhGhat was not appropriate for a future memorial and were disappointed over the allocation of the site for last rites. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to PM Modi on Monday, asking the site be maintained as a future memorial for Manmohan Singh.

In Congress vs BJP, BJP countered Congress's demand by saying that it was "ironic" it was not necessary to build a memorial for former PM Narasimha Rao who died in 2004.The Centre had last week stated a space for a Manmohan Singh Memorialwould be provided, but added that the formalities such as formation of the trust are still pending.

Manmohan Singh, who died on Dec. 27 in Delhi of age-related complications at the age of 92, was instrumental in putting together India’s modern economy. He served as India’s prime minister from 2004 to 2014 as part the Congress-led UPA government for 10 years, during which he played a vital role in fast tracking economic reforms turning into a backbone for India to emerge as one of the fastest-leading economy in the world.

Manmohan Singh was an iconic and purposeful leader who was always calm and internationally credited with gloriouseconomic leadership. Condolences poured in from world leaders, including France's Emmanuel Macron and US secretary of state Antony Blinken, along with mentions of his contributions to India and to the global community.