Manmohan Singh Funeral Live Updates: Modi, Amit Shah, Gandhi family among top leaders at Nigambodh Ghat for former PM’s last rites with full state honours

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi was one of the party leaders to pay his respects to former PM Manmohan Singh before the final rites at Nigambodh Ghat. "No one can take the place of late Manmohan Singh Ji in our heart. I would like to thank people from across the country for their love and paying tribute," he said to reporters outside the crematorium site.

The last rites were performed at the Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among other top leaders and foreign dignitaries.

King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful were among the foreign dignitaries who paid their tributes to Singh .

Besides President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Leaders of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi were among the top leaders who paid their last tributes to the former prime minister.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, and the three services chiefs also paid their last respects to Singh.

The flower-bedecked casket draped in the Tricolour was placed at a raised platform, where leaders cutting across party lines laid wreaths on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's mortal remains at Nigambodh Ghat.

Besides President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Leaders of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi were among the top leaders who paid their last tributes to the former prime minister at the crematorium.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, and the three services chiefs also paid their last respects to Singh.

The King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the Foreign Minister of Mauritius, Dhananjay Ramful arrive at the Nigambodh Ghat. After PM Modi and a series of ministers, President Droupadi Murmu was seen paying her respects and being part of the full state honours being accorded to the former PM

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Nigambodh Ghat crematorium site just before the last rites with full state honours began

'Singapore Flag lowered at half-mast as a show of deep respect to the late PM Shri Dr Manmohan Singh. Our deepest condolences,' Singapore's High Commissioner to India HC Wong writes on X.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh says: "It is unfortunate that we even have to talk about this. This shows how obnoxious the government's thinking is... I want to ask PM Narendra Modi, why are you not ready to give space for PM Manmohan Singh's last rites in the Rajghat premises? This party calls itself the most cultured? Tell me the name of one former PM whose last rites were performed in Nigambodh... How disrespected the Sikh community must feel..."

By late Friday, several Congress leaders said the BJP-led NDA government has not acceded to their request and they are given to understand that the cremation will take place at the Nigambodh Ghat.

Congress communication head Jairam Ramesh said: “The people of our country are simply unable to understand why the Government of India could not find a location for his cremation and memorial that is befitting of his global stature, record of outstanding achievements, and exemplary service to the nation for decades."

He called it "nothing but a deliberate insult to the first Sikh Prime Minister of India”

His party colleagues also spoke out and so did the SAD, SP and AAP.

On the issue of allocating space for a memorial for former PM Manmohan Singh, RJD chief Lalu Yadav says: "He should get it. The country will never get a politician like Dr Manmohan Singh. I was a part of his Council of Ministers. I was very close to him..."

The Congress wanted Singh’s cremation at a place where a memorial could be built in his honour. Incidentally, it was the UPA government headed by Singh that had blocked demands for separate memorials.

While the last rites of former PM Manmohan Singh is scheduled to be performed today, the White House released a statement from President Joe Biden on his death.

The statement reads: "Jill and I join the people of India in grieving the loss of former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh...During this difficult time, we recommit to this vision to which Prime Minister Singh dedicated his life. Jill and I send our deepest condolences to former First Lady Gursharan Kaur, their three children, and all the people of India..."

The government has accepted a Congress request for allocation of space for a memorial to former PM Manmohan Singh, a practice that the UPA government ended in 2013.

On the matter, Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu says: "When a person dies, all enmity vanishes with him... but politics is being played here. I ask a small question if Atal Ji's last rites were to be performed and someone had said that the memorial would not be built at Raj Ghat, it would be built somewhere else, how would you feel?... This issue is not of any party but of the country's history..."

After Manmohan Singh's mortal remains were taken to the Congress party headquarters in Delhi, it is now being taken towards the Nigambodh Ghat where the last rites will take place around 11.45 am.

As the flower-bedecked vehicle is seen proceeding with the convoy, the crowd moves along.