Hundreds line up to bid adieu to Dr Singh

● King to envoys to workers pay tribute to ex-PM

- SAMAN HUSAIN & LALMANI VERMA

FROM THE KING of Bhutan to the Palestinian envoy to the Congress worker from Rae Bareli who took a bus and train to reach Delhi, people came from far and wide to bid a final farewell to former prime minister Manmohan Singh.

Singh's mortal remains were consigned to the flames at the Nigambodh Ghat Saturday. His wife Gursharan Kaur and their three daughters were present as people paid their last tribute.

Dignitaries there included President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defence minister Rajnath Singh, home minister Amit Shah, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Leaders of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.

In the morning, Singh's final journey began from his house on Motilal Nehru Road, stopping at the AICC headquarters on Akbar Road.

At the AICC headquarters, party workers, dignitaries, including those from other countries, and the general public had gathered to catch a glimpse of the man who fought hardship to get an education, opened India to the world before becoming its prime minister for two consecutive terms.

Despite the hundreds gathered there, silence enveloped the AICC headquarters. Party workers queued up, in a winding line, each holding a white gladiolus flower. As the convoy carrying Dr Singh's mortal remains, placed on a truck adorned with marigold flowers, made its way to the Nigambodh Ghat, a long trail of cars followed.Many others chose to follow on foot, running to keep pace, not wanting to be left behind. Residents of jhuggi-jhopdi clusters and government flats stepped out of their homes to watch. Those stuck in traffic left their cars, many taking photographs to capture the moment.Along queue of people waited near India Gate.

Even while raising slogans such as 'Manmohan Singh amar rahe' and 'Jab tak suraj chand rahega, Manmohan tera naam rahega', people seemed subdued, mournful emotional tribute to a leader whose legacy transcended politics.