The Hindu Business Line : Narasimha Rao cremated

The Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, and the Defence Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, at the funeral of former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, in Hyderabad on Saturday. - P.V. Sivakumar

Hyderabad , Dec. 25

THE Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh; his cabinet colleagues, the Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram; the Defence Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee; several Chief Ministers and Governors attended the funeral of former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao here on Saturday.

The mortal remains of Rao were consigned to the flames on the banks of lake Hussainsagar, with full military and State honours at around 1.45 p.m.

Mr P.V. Ranga Rao, the eldest son of Narasimha Rao (he has three sons and five daughters), lit the pyre. And 14 army personnel from the 7/8 Gorkha regiment fired the three-volley gun salute synchronising with the fire.

The leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Mr L.K. Advani; former Prime Minister Mr H.D. Deve Gowda; senior Cong (I) leaders Mr N.D. Tiwari, Mr Motilal Vora and others; the AP Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy; and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, were present on the occasion. Other State ministers, friends and relatives were also present.

The 83-year-old Rao, the first South Indian Prime Minister and the first Congress PM outside the Nehru-Gandhi family to complete a full five-year term, served the country as Prime Minister during 1991-96.

He passed away on Thursday in Delhi due to cardiac arrest.

His body was brought to Hyderabad on Friday and was kept at Jubilee Hall.