Sheila Dikshit cremated with full state honours at Delhi's Nigambodh Ghat; Congress, BJP leaders hail former CM for capital's development
Sheila Dikshit’s family members, colleagues, Congress workers, and admirers braved heavy rains and gusty winds to bid her a final farewell at the national capital’s oldest cremation ground, Nigambodh Ghat.
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Sheila Dikshit, three-time chief minister of Delhi and two-time MLA, who is credited with the “all-round” development of the national capital was cremated with full state honours on Sunday after she passed away due to a cardiac arrest on Saturday. PTI
Family members, colleagues, Congress workers, and admirers braved heavy rains and gusty winds to bid her a final farewell at the national capital's oldest cremation ground, Nigambodh Ghat. PTI
Top Congress leaders were present at the funeral to pay tributes to the departed 81-year-old Congress veteran. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among those at Nigambodh Ghat. PTI
Union Minister Amit Shah, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and Delhi home minister Satyendar Jain were among those who attended the last rites. PTI
Delhi government declared a two-day mourning period in honour of Sheila Dikshit on Saturday. PTI
Earlier on Sunday, paying homage to Dikshit, Sonia said that she was a 'friend and like an elder sister' to her. Her demise was a big loss to the Congress party, she said. PTI
Leaders across party lines paid tributes to the stalwart as veteran BJP leader LK Advani and former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj visited Dikshit's residence and paid their respects. PTI
National Conference's Omar Abdullah and Communist Party of India's D Raja also paid their respects to her on Sunday at her residence. PTI
Dikshit's body was taken to the Congress headquarters where top party leaders, including Manmohan Singh, chief ministers Ashok Gehlot and Kamal Nath, paid their respects. PTI
Later, the body was taken to the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee office, the city unit which she was heading at the time of her death. Friends and admirers fondly recalled their interactions with Dikshit during her 15-year stint as the chief minister of the national capital. PTI