As former president Pranab Mukherjee was cremated with full state honours at the Lodhi Road electric crematorium in Delhi on Tuesday afternoon, Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Y Khemchand joined several national leaders, including President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chiefs of three defence services, who paid their last respect to the former president.
"Paid tributes to respected Shri Pranab Mukherjee. He would be remembered by generations for his efforts towards India's progress," Modi tweeted.
Khemchand also stated in his condolence message that he was profoundly saddened to hear the news of the passing away of former president Pranab Mukherjee.
The speaker said Mukherjee was a man of unparalleled experience in governance with the rare distinction of having served at different times as Foreign, Defence, Commerce and Finance minister. He was elected to the Upper house of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) five times from 1969 and twice to the Lower House of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from 2004, it stated.
Mukherjee was a member of the Congress Working Committee, the highest policy making body of the party for a period of 23 years. “I convey my deep condolences on his demise and share the grief of his bereaved family members,” it added.
Mukherjee died on Monday at the Army's Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi after undergoing treatment for multiple ailments at the hospital weeks. His mortal remains were brought to his residence, 10, Rajaji Marg, on Tuesday from the hospital
Following his death, as a mark of respect to the departed leader, the union government on Monday announced a seven-day state mourning across the country. He was 84.
