Photos: India mourns former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in state funeral | Politics News

Manmohan Singh, former Indian Prime Minister widely regarded as the architect of the country’s economic reform programme, he was cremated after a state funeral on Saturday as politicians and the public mourned his death.

The veteran leader, who was also responsible for a key nuclear deal with the United States, died late Thursday at the age of 92.

Singh’s body was taken to his Congress party headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday morning, where party leaders and activists paid tribute and chanted “Manmohan Singh lives forever”.

Abhishek Bishnoi, a party leader, said Singh’s death was a great loss to the country. “He used to say little, but his talent and actions spoke louder than his words,” he said.

Later, Singh’s body was taken to the crematorium for his last rites as soldiers beat drums.

Government officials, politicians and family members paid their last respects to Singh, whose coffin was decorated with flowers and draped in the Indian flag. The security personnel honored him with a ceremonial fire platoon.

Indian President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called Singh one of the country’s “most respected leaders”, as well as several government ministers attended the funeral.

Singh’s body was then transferred to the pyre to the tune of religious hymns and cremated.

The authorities declared a seven days mourning and canceled all cultural and entertainment events during that time. Government buildings across India fly the national flag at half-mast.