Former PM Chandra Shekhar cremated with full state honours(lead:Shekhar)

The mortal remains of Indias eleventh Prime Minister, Chandra Shekhar, were consigned to flames at Ekta Sthal, on the outskirts of the capital New Delhi, on Monday afternoon with due solemnity and pomp befitting the occasion.

New Delhi, July 9 : The mortal remains of India's eleventh Prime Minister, Chandra Shekhar, were consigned to flames at Ekta Sthal, on the outskirts of the capital New Delhi, on Monday afternoon with due solemnity and pomp befitting the occasion.

The final obsequies took place shortly after 5 p.m. local time to the chant of Vedic prayers and the sounding of the Last Post by a tri-services contingent of buglers.

Prior to the lighting of the funeral pyre by Chandra Shekhar's grandson, floral wreaths and garlands were placed at the foot of the funeral pyre by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition L.K.Advani, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Railway Minister Lalu Yadav, the three service chiefs -- General J.J.Singh, Admiral Sureesh Mehta and Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, besides former Prime Ministers H.D.Devegowda and Inder Kumar Gujral, and others.

Earlier, people from all walks of life thronged the 3, South Avenue official residence of Chandra Shekhar, to pay their last respects.

The tricolour-draped body of the former Prime Minister was then taken through the main thoroughfares of the capital in an Indian Army truck, passing by South Avenue, Rajaji Marg, Kamraj Marg, Maulana Azad Road, Akbar Road, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, and Delhi Gate to allow the general public to have a last glimpse of the departed leader, who had a visible and telling presence on the country's politics for more than five decades.

As a mark of respect, flags on government buildings were at half-mast, and government offices remained closed after 1.30 p.m. to facilitate the attendance of mourners at the funeral venue.

Senior officers of the three services then carried the funeral byre upto the cremation site. A tri-services guard of honour then reversed arms as a mark of respect.

Chandra Shekhar died at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital on Sunday morning. He had been suffering from multiple myeloma, a cancer afflicting the body's plasma cell, and was admitted to the hospital in May. He was sent into the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital over the weekend, and breathed his last at 8.45 p.m. He was 80.

The Government has declared state mourning period of seven days. The national flag will be at half-mast during this period,as a mark of respect to the late socialist leader.

ANI