Manmohan Singh's demise: Govt declares 7-day mourning; last rites to be held with full state hounours

NEW DELHI: The Union government on Thursday declared a seven day-day national mourning of Manmohan Singh.
According to officials, the Union cabinet will meet at 11 am Friday to pat tributes to the veteran Congress leader. Singh's last rites will be conducted with full state honours, the officials added.
Meanwhile, Congress also announced that all party official programmes, including its foundation day celebrations, will be cancelled for the next seven days as a mark of respect for the former prime minister.
Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala said that as a mark of respect for Dr Manmohan Singh, the Congress has cancelled its 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan Rally' in Karnataka's Belgaum on Friday.
Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal said that as a mark of respect for the departed former prime minister, all official programmes of the Indian National Congress, including its foundation day celebrations, stand cancelled for the next seven days.
"This includes all the agitational and outreach programs. Party programmes will resume on 3rd January 2025. The party flag will be flown at half-mast during this period of mourning," Venugopal said on X.
Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, on Thursday night at the age of 92.