Vajpayee’s cremation at 1600 hrs today, host of leaders pay homage

Vajpayee’s cremation at 1600 hrs today, host of leaders pay homage

Aug 17, 2018

New Delhi: The last rites of former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who
passed away here yesterday will be performed at the Smriti Sthal at 1600 hrs on Friday.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached BJP headquarter at Deendayal Upashyaya Marg to receive the late leader’s body. From the parrty head quater, will be taken to the Smritisthal in a procession at 1300 hrs.
Earlier, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and all the three armed forces chiefs and a host of leaders payed homage to the former Prime Minister whose body was lying in state at his residence.

Vajpayee was a founder member of the BJP and the first non-Congress Prime Minister to complete a full term in office. He was at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for nine weeks before he passed away on Thursday
at the age of 93.

Officers from the three armed forces draped the body in the Tricolour on Thursday before enabling leaders and people to pay their last respects at his residence in central Delhi’s Krishna Menon Marg.

Indian Navy Chief Sunil Lanba, Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat, Indian Air Force Chief B.S. Dhanoa were among those who paid homage to the late leader.

Nepal Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali has also come to attend the last rites of the late leader.

Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, famous song writer Javed Akthar and his wife Shabana Azmi also paid their homage to Vajpayee. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu also paid his homage to the former Prime Minister.(With IANS input)