Sheila Dikshit cremated with full state honours in Delhi; Amit Shah, Congress leaders present

Sheila Dikshit's mortal remains were kept at her home in Delhi's Nizamuddin East for people to pay their last respects.

NEW DELHI: Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who died on Saturday, was cremated at the Nigam Bodh Ghat in Delhi on Sunday. The veteran Congress leader was 81. She was admitted to the Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in a critical condition on Saturday morning and died of cardiac arrest at 3:55 pm.

"Mrs Sheila Dikshit was brought in the morning on 20th July 2019 to Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Okhla, New Delhi, in a critical condition with cardiac arrest. A multi-disciplinary team of doctors, led by Dr Ashok Seth, Chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, carried out the advanced resuscitative measures. Her condition stabilised temporarily. However, she had another cardiac arrest and despite all the resuscitative efforts, passed away at 3:55 PM on 20th of July 2019," Fortis said in a statement.

Her mortal remains were kept at her home in Delhi's Nizamuddin East and then at the Congress headquarters for people to pay their last respects. Having served in office for 15 years from 1998 to 2013, she has been the longest-serving Chief Minister of Delhi. She was appointed Delhi Congress Committee earlier this year ahead of the Lok Sabha election which she unsuccessfully contested from North East Delhi seat.

21 July 2019

15:51 PM

Sheila Dikshit has been cremated at Nigam Bodh ghat in Delhi with full state honours. Several Congress leaders, as well as Home Minister Amit Shah, was also present for the funeral.

Former Delhi Chief Minister and Congress leader Sheila Dikshit was cremated with state honours, today. pic.twitter.com/AXvidT6ubO

— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2019

15:10 PM

Sheila Dikshit's mortal remains have been brought to the Nigam Bodh ghat where her last rites will be held

14:36 PM

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also visited the Congress office to pay tributes. He tweeted: "Paid my respects to late Smt. Sheila Dikshit ji. May her soul rest in peace."

Paid my respects to late Smt. Sheila Dikshit ji. May her soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/d96XbJZE8F

— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) July 21, 2019

14:30 PM

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath pays tribute to Sheila Dikshit at Congress Headquarters

Delhi: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath pays tribute to former Delhi CM and Senior Congress leader #SheilaDixit, at Congress Headquarter pic.twitter.com/NVquZ5LqZm

— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2019

12:46 PM

Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra paid tribute to the former Delhi CM at Congress Headquarters. Priyanka had on Saturday condoled Diskshit's death and remembered her contribution to the national capital. "Sheilaji will always be remembered for her years of exemplary governance and immense contribution to the development of Delhi. I will miss her wise counsel, her sweet smile and the warmth with which she would hug me whenever we met," she had tweeted.

Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra pay tribute to former Delhi CM and Senior Congress leader #SheilaDixit, at Congress Headquarter pic.twitter.com/lBbBa4SJnD

— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2019

12:18 PM

CPI lawmaker D Raja and his party colleague Atul Anjan also paid tributes to Sheila Dikshit today. Delhi Archbishop Anil Kuto also visited her Nizamuddin residence to pay respects.

12:01 PM

As per Delhi Police has said that Home Minister Amit Shah, former prime minister Manmohan Singh,  UPA chief Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders will be reaching the Nigambodh ghat at 2:30 pm for the last rites.  

11:49 AM

Sheila Dikshit's mortal remains are being taken to the Congress office where party leaders will be paying their last respects. 

Delhi: Mortal remains of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit being taken from her residence in Nizamuddin to Congress Headquarters. pic.twitter.com/T80zxxH3eh

— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2019

11:34 AM

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader LK Advani paid tribute to the former Delhi CM at her residence.

Delhi: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader LK Advani pays tribute to former Delhi CM and Senior Congress leader #SheilaDixit who passed away yesterday. pic.twitter.com/ppVyfmAxoN

— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2019

10:17 AM

Her mortal remains will be taken to the Congress headquarters in Delhi before the last rites at Nigam Bodh Ghat. "We regret to hear of the passing of Smt Sheila Dikshit. Lifelong congresswoman and as three time CM of Delhi she transformed the face of Delhi. Our condolences to her family and friends. Hope they find strength in this time of grief," Congress had tweeted.

UPA Chairperson Smt Sonia Gandhi paid her respects to the late Smt Sheila Dikshit. pic.twitter.com/9Eah2cEOur

— Congress (@INCIndia) July 20, 2019

10:08 AM

In view of her sudden death, the Indian Army said that a Tri-Service band performance scheduled to be held at India Gate on July 21 has been postponed. "Due to sad Demise of @SheilaDikshit, Tri-Services Band Performance at India Gate on July 21 is being postponed to July 22 at same time and venue. No change in Kargil Vijay Run on July 21 at 0600h from Vijay Chowk. Event dedicated to Kargil martyrs," Indian Army said in a tweet.

10:04 AM

Former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj visited Sheila Dikshit's residence to pay tribute to the former Delhi CM. "I am sorry to know about the sudden demise of Sheila Dixit ji. We were opponents in politics but friends in personal life. She was a fine human being," Swaraj had tweeted on Saturday.

Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj pays tribute to former Delhi CM and Senior Congress leader #SheilaDixit who passed away yesterday pic.twitter.com/Ta5dPRDxft

— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2019

10:03 AM

Former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah paid tribute to Sheila Dikshit. Condoling her death, he had on Saturday tweeted, "What terrible terrible news. I’ve always known her as a very warm & affectionate lady. She did wonders for Delhi as CM & will be greatly missed by all who knew her. May her soul rest in peace."

Former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah pays tribute to former Delhi CM and Senior Congress leader #SheilaDixit who passed away yesterday pic.twitter.com/n27WtZgjOH

— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2019

10:01 AM

UPA Chairperson and senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi condoled the former Delhi Chief Minister's death and said that she worked with a vision to transform Delhi to make it a better place to live. In a letter to Dikshit's children Sandeep and Latika Dikshit, Sonia said: "I write to you with my heart filled with grief and a great sense of loss, for your beloved mother occupied a huge space in it. I came to share my husband`s regard for Sheilaji and to value her very special gifts as I developed my own close relationship with her." Read more here.