Former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit Laid to Rest With State Honours
The veteran leader and Delhi’s three-time chief minister passed away on 20 July, at the age of 81.
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Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit was laid to rest with full State honours on Sunday, 21 July at Nigambodh Ghat.
Colleagues, Congress workers and admirers braved heavy rains and gusty winds to bid her final farewell on Sunday. Top Congress leaders, including UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were present at the funeral.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and Home Minister Satyendar Jain were among those who attended the last rites.
Earlier, paying homage to Dikshit, Sonia Gandhi said the three-time chief minister of Delhi was a friend and like an elder sister to her. Her demise was a big loss to the Congress party, she said.
Dikshit's body was taken to the Congress headquarters where top party leaders, including Manmohan Singh and chief ministers Ashok Gehlot and Kamal Nath paid their respects. 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.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited her residence and was accompanied by Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari.
As the longest serving woman chief minister who steered her party to victory for three consecutive terms in 1998, 2003 and 2008, Dikshit ushered in an era of all-round development that transformed Delhi into a world class capital.
The Delhi government has decided to declare two days of mourning, said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
(With inputs from PTI)
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