Thousands join Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s final journey; PM Modi, entire Union Cabinet walks

Mangalore Today News Network

New delhi, Aug 17, 2018: The mortal remains of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, one of modern India’s tallest leaders and former Prime Minister, are being taken to the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal where he will be laid to rest with full state honours around 4 pm on Friday. The veteran leader died after a prolonged illness on Thursday evening. He breathed his last at 5.05 PM at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital.

From AIIMS, mortal remains of the former prime minister were taken to his residence at 6-A Krishna Menon Marg in New Delhi, where leaders from across the country arrived to pay their last respects.

As the leaders paid tributes to the three-time prime minister of the country, BJP chief Amit Shah told reporters that the mortal remains would be kept at party headquarters from Friday morning for the general public to pay their last respects.

As announced earlier, the mortal remains of the former PM were kept at his residence for the general public and the VIPs so that they can pay their last respect to the departed soul. Draped in tricolour, his mortal remains were later taken to the BJP headquarters where PM Narendra Modi and all top leaders of the country received them. The final journey of the poet-politician from the BJP head office will culminate at the Smriti Sthal where he will be accorded a state funeral before his cremation.

As a mark of respect to the departed leader, the BJP-led central government has declared a 7-day state mourning across the country. During this period, the national flag will be flown at half-mast at all offices and institutions throughout the country. All the government offices will be functional only for half day on Friday.