Political bigwigs line up to say final goodbye to Manmohan Singh, the OG reformer

New Delhi: The Indian political class rose above ideological and political differences to pay glowing tributes to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. President Droupadi Murmu, vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as well as the Gandhis and a galaxy of leaders from across parties visited Singh's official residence to pay their respects.

The home ministry said Singh's last rites will be held at 11.45 am on Saturday at the Nigambodh Ghat crematorium. He will be given a state funeral with full military honours. The Congress had asked the government to allot a place for the cremation as well as a memorial at the designated site for funeral rites of former PMs near Rajghat on the banks of the Yamuna.

Congress sources said party president Mallikarjun Kharge had conveyed this to Prime Minister Modi in a letter. They said Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi had also broached the subject with defence minister Rajnath Singh. Kharge told a CWC meeting that the issue was being discussed with the government and the members of Singh's family, who would take the final call. While former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was accorded a funeral and memorial near Rajghat, his predecessor PV Narasimha Rao was cremated in Hyderabad with a memorial there.

A half-day holiday is to be declared for central government offices and central public sector units to mark the occasion.

Body to be Brought to Cong HQ at 8 am
The Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi met on Friday to mourn the former PM's death.

"The cabinet expresses profound sorrow over the sad demise of Dr Manmohan Singh," said the resolution it passed. He "has left his imprint on our national life. In his passing away, the nation has lost an eminent statesman, renowned economist and a distinguished leader. The cabinet extends its heartfelt condolences on behalf of the government and entire nation to the bereaved family."

A meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) paid accolades to the party's last Prime Minister, and listed his achievements and contributions. In a personal message, former Congress president and CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who chose Singh for the post of Prime Minister in 2004 after she turned it down, praised his achievements.

"For me, Dr Manmohan Singh-ji's death is a deeply personal loss," she said. "He was my friend, philosopher and guide. He was so gentle in his manner but so resolute in his deeply held convictions. His commitment to social justice, secularism and democratic values was deep and unwavering. To spend any time with him was to come away enlightened by his knowledge and sagacity, moved by honesty and integrity and awed by his genuine humility."

Singh's body will be brought to the Congress headquarters at 24, Akbar Road at 8 am on Saturday.

"The public and Congress workers will have the opportunity to offer their tributes between 8.30 am and 9.30 am," said AICC general secretary KC Venugopal. Incidentally, the same honour hadn't been accorded to Rao. The funeral cortege will start from the Congress office for the cremation ground at 9.30 am.

Among those who visited Singh's residence were home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and BJP national president JP Nadda, along with chief ministers MK Stalin, N Chandrababu Naidu and Revanth Reddy as well as several Congress leaders.

PK Mishra, principal secretary to Prime Minister Modi, recalled his student days at the Delhi School of Economics, where Singh was a professor.

"Dr Manmohan Singh had a remarkable ability to explain complex topics in international trade in a way every student could understand, making learning easier for students. He was extremely unassuming and low profile," he said.

Mishra had worked as secretary to the National Disaster Management Authority and secretary in the ministry of agriculture when Singh was PM.

A steady stream of condolence messages poured in from diplomats and admirers of Singh from various walks of life.