Seven-day official mourning
Tuesday, 1st September 2020
The former President Pranab Mukherjee passed away on Monday after he was tested positive for coronavirus, at 84 years of age. He was cremated with complete military honours. Seven-day official mourning will be observed by the government and some states.
PM Narendra Modi as well as President Ram Nath Kovind paid their homage at his residence.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and three services’ chiefs paid their last respects to Pranab Mukherjee.
There was no gun carriage to take the body due to pandemic protocol and instead, a hearse van was used. The funeral was performed at the Lodi Road crematorium.
Home ministry announced state mourning across the country from 31st of August to 6th of September, in a statement.
“During the period of state mourning, the national flag will fly at half-mast on all buildings throughout India, where it is flown regularly, and there will be no official entertainment”, Home ministry stated.
PM Modi yesterday, shared a photo and tweeted, “He has left an indelible mark on the development trajectory of our nation”.
“A scholar par excellence, a towering statesman, he was admired across the political spectrum and by all sections of society”, he added.
Source: NDTV