Mourners gather to pay last respects to Badal at his ancestral village
Badal, April 27: On Thursday morning, mourners gathered in large numbers at Badal village in Punjab's Muktsar to pay their last respects to Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal.
The Akali stalwart, who had died on Tuesday at the age of 95, was to be cremated at the family's agricultural land where a raised platform had been erected for performing the last rites. Heavy security arrangements had been made in the village as many dignitaries were expected to attend the last rites of the five-time Punjab chief minister.
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Party workers and common people from several places were seen heading towards Badal village to pay their respects. The mortal remains of Badal were kept for the last 'darshan' at his residence from 9 am till 12 noon, after which the cremation took place at around 1 pm. A party supporter at Badal village said the former chief minister was always ready to make any sacrifice for the rights of Punjab.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several political leaders had paid floral tributes to Badal at the Shiromani Akali Dal office in Chandigarh, and the mortal remains were later brought to Badal village in Muktsar district. As the vehicle carrying Badal's mortal remains headed to Badal village, party supporters and many common people stood along both sides of the highway to catch a glimpse of the leader.
The Punjab government and the Chandigarh administration had declared a public holiday on Thursday as a mark of respect to the former chief minister. Badal had served as chief minister of Punjab in 1970, 1977-80, 1997-2002, 2007-12 and 2012-2017.
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- With inputs from agencies
