NEW DELHI: The mortal remains of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, one of modern India's tallest leaders and former Prime Minister, was cremated with full military honours at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, in Delhi on Friday evening. The veteran leader died after a prolonged illness on Thursday evening. He breathed his last at 5.05 PM at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital.


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President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several top national and international leaders paid their last tributes to the three-time former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.


From AIIMS, mortal remains of the former prime minister were taken to his residence at 6-A Krishna Menon Marg in New Delhi, where leaders from across the country arrived to pay their last respects.


As the leaders paid tributes to the three-time prime minister of the country, BJP chief Amit Shah told reporters that the mortal remains would be kept at party headquarters from Friday morning for the general public to pay their last respects. 


As announced earlier, the mortal remains of the former PM were kept at his residence for the general public and the VIPs so that they can pay their last respect to the departed soul. Draped in tricolour, his mortal remains were later taken to the BJP headquarters where PM Narendra Modi and all top leaders of the country received them. The final journey of the poet-politician from the BJP head office will culminate at the Smriti Sthal where he will be accorded a state funeral before his cremation. 


As a mark of respect to the departed leader, the BJP-led central government has declared a 7-day state mourning across the country. During this period, the national flag will be flown at half-mast at all offices and institutions throughout the country. All the government offices will be functional only for half day on Friday.


Here are the latest news updates on former PM and BJP stalwart's final journey, last rites:-


- The 'Change of Guard' ceremony on the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan will not be held on Saturday due to state mourning. 


- Ashes of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be immersed in every river in Uttar Pradesh including Ganga, Yamuna, and Tapti, to respect his grand stature: UP government


 



 


- Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee dedicated his entire life to the country. I pay tribute to him on the behalf of the nation: President Ram Nath Kovind



- Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emotional message on Twitter:



 


- Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's foster daughter Namita Bhattacharya and granddaughter Niharika Bhattacharya meet PM Modi and top BJP leaders including Amit Shah, LK Advani, etc.


- Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's foster daughter Namita Bhattacharya performing last rites. 


- Top international leaders at former PM's funeral.



 


- Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee cremated with full state honours at Smriti Sthal in Delhi


 



 


- Gun salute accorded to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Smriti Sthal



- Last rites ceremony of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee underway at Smriti Sthal in Delhi.



- Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has condoled the death of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saying he was an "eloquent" supporter of the Tibetan people and a "friend". In a letter to Vajpayee's foster daughter Namita Bhattacharya yesterday, the Dalai Lama said with his passing away, India has lost an eminent national leader.


- Vajpayee's adopted daughter Namita Kaul Bhattacharya performs the last rites.


- Army hand over the tricolour to Atal Bihari Vajpayee's grand-daughter Niharika Bhattacharya.



 


- Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Sri Lanka acting Foreign Minister Lakshman Kiriella pay last respects to former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee at Smriti Sthal pic.twitter.com/BaWegOx4mi



- "We are here to share your grief and pay our condolences on the behalf of people of Pakistan and the Government of Pakistan," says Pakistan Law Minister Ali Zafar after arriving in Delhi for the funeral of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.



- Last salute accorded to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Smriti Sthal


 



-Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, PM Narendra Modi, Former PM Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP President Amit Shah, senior BJP leader LK Advani, Congress President Rahul Gandhi at Smriti Sthal in Delhi for funeral of former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee pic.twitter.com/o44tp47XxD



 


- President Ram Nath Kovind reaches Smriti Sthal in Delhi.


- Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan pay last respects to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Smriti Sthal in Delhi.


 



 


- Former Afghanisthan President Hamid Karzai pays his last respect to Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Smriti Sthal in Delhi.


- BJP stalwart Lal Krishna Advani and BJP chief Amit Shah pays last tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Smriti Sthal.


 



 


- PM Modi pays his last respect to Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Smriti Sthal in Delhi.



- France statement on former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's death: Poet, politician, visionary, he left his mark on India’s history. His name remains linked to the Indo-French friendship, which he shaped by launching the strategic partnership that has united our two countries since 1998.


- Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba & Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, pay last tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Smriti Sthal in Delhi.



- Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's mortal remains reach Smriti Sthal.


- Top political leaders at the funeral: 



- Former PM Manmohan Singh and Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrive at Smriti Sthal for the funeral of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.



- Union Jack flies at half-mast at the British High Commission in New Delhi as a mark of respect to the former PM.



-Some more visuals of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's final journey to Smriti Sthal. A sea of supporters on Delhi streets chant 'Amar Rahe Atal Ji', 'Atal Bihari Zindabad'.



-Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai arrives in Delhi to attend the funeral of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.



-The mortal remains of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee being taken to Smriti Sthal for the funeral. PM Modi, Amit Shah and other BJP leaders also take part in the procession - WATCH.



-Glimpse of people gathered during funeral possession of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Smriti Sthal.



-Here are some more visuals of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's final journey; PM Modi and Amit Shah also take part in the procession. 



-The mortal remains of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee being taken to Smriti Sthal for the funeral. PM Modi also takes part in the procession.



-Mortal remains of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee being taken from BJP Headquarters to Smriti Sthal for the funeral.



-Final journey of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee begins from BJP office to Smriti Sthal.


-Mulayam Singh Yadav pays tribute to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at BJP HQs.



-King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck pays tribute to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at BJP HQ. PM Modi, EAM Sushma Swaraj and Amit Shah also present. 



-Sri Lanka acting Foreign Minister Lakshman Kiriella arrives in Delhi to attend the funeral of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.



-BJP office gates closed, only those inside will be allowed to pay homage to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, say reports.  


-The govt of Mauritius has decided that both Indian and Mauritian flag will fly half-mast on govt buildings today.



-It was the speciality of Atal ji that he never let humanity be harmed due to the political and differences. Such principle is needed in the country today: Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) General Secretary



-Preparations have begun for Atal Bihari Vajpayee's final journey, the funeral procession is likely to begin around 1.30 PM; security has been tightened around Smriti Sthal.


- Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and AAP MP Sanjay Singh pay last respects to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at BJP Headquarters.



-We remember him for his contribution to Bangladesh Liberation War and support to the people of Bangladesh. He had a great liking for Bengali music. I had the privilege of serving in Delhi as career diplomat when he became Foreign Minister: Bangladesh Foreign Minister.



-Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan pays last respects to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at BJP office.



-BJP MP Hema Malini pays last respects to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the BJP Headquarters in Delhi.



-I met him once in 2006. He was a very good orator. The void of his absence can never be filled by anyone in Indian politics, he has been a role model for everyone and inspired many through his poetry, speeches and oratorship: Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar 



-According to Zee News, NSG has taken control of roads leading to Smriti Sthal, final journey of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee to begin around 1.30 PM.


-Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali arrives in Delhi to attend the funeral of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.



-Gates of BJP office closed again as the crowd to pay tributes to Atal Bihari Vajpayee swells, reports ANI.


-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal Pradeep Kumar Gyawali arrives in Delhi, he will attend the funeral of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.



-Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray and his family at the BJP Headquarters. 



-Veteran BJP leader LK Advani and his daughter Pratibha pay last respects to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the BJP office here.



-Gates of BJP office opened for the general public to pay last respects to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, say reports.


-King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk arrives in Delhi to attend the funeral of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.



-He wanted India to be everybody's. He also wanted to strike up a friendship with Pakistan. Unfortunately, he couldn't see that. I hope that the current government and Pakistan's Imran Khan govt fulfil his dream, that will be a true tribute to him: Farooq Abdullah.



-UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Ram Naik pay last respects to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at BJP Headquarters.



- DMK leader A Raja, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal and Manipur CM N Biren Singh pay last respects to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the BJP headquarters in Delhi.



-Atal Bihari Vajpayee was an extremely rare human being, writes megastar Amitabh Bachchan in heartfelt tributes to former PM.


-Union Minister Suresh Prabhu and BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav pay last respects to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at BJP headquarters.



-BJP president Amit Shah and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh pay last respects to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at BJP headquarters.



-PM Modi pays last respects to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at BJP Headquarters.



-Party leaders pay last respects to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at BJP head office.



-PM Modi, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP chief Amit Shah, UP CM Yogi Adityanath and other top leaders present at party headquarters to recieve mortal remains of Atal Ji.



-Mortal remains of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee arrive at BJP office in Delhi.



-Delhi High Court and District courts to function till 1 pm today. The competent authority has decided that there will be a half-day holiday on Friday to allow officials and to attend the funeral of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. at Smriti Sthal.


-PM Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, parliamentary board members, NDA government Ministers, Governors, special envoys from several neighbouring countries, non-BJP leaders from across the country and a huge number of supporters are present at the BJP office.  


-Huge crowd gathers at BJP Headquarters where mortal remains of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be brought shortly.



-People are chanting 'Atal Bihari amar rahe' and 'Vande Mataram' as trucks carrying his mortal remains make way to BJP office.



-A sea of supporters join the funeral procession of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, shout ''long live Atal Ji, 'Atal Bihari Zindabad'.



-PM Narendra Modi arrives at BJP Headquarters at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg where mortal remains of former PM  Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be brought shortly.



-WATCH -Last rites of Bharat Ratna and former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee



-Atal Ji was ahead of times, tweets PM Narendra Modi.



-PM Narendra Modi remembers former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his demise.



-Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan pens heartfelt note on former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's demise, shares poem, READ  


-Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.



-Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.



-National Security Advisor Ajit Doval pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.



-Congress president Rahul Gandhi pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.



-Army Chief Bipin Rawat pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.



-Delhi Police has made elaborate security arrangements for the last rites procession. It will be ensured that the people who come to pay last respect and the commuters face minimum inconvenience and that there is no compromise with security: Delhi DCP Madhur Verma. 



-RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.



-Javed Akhtar says,'very rare that a politician is respected across party lines. People with different ideology have also come as they love him because 'he used to love all'.



- Lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi arrive at former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's residence to pay their last respects. 


-Tight security arrangements, including the deployment of police, traffic and paramilitary personnel, sniffer dogs, surveillance cameras, commandos have been put in place around the 6-A Krishna Menon Marg bungalow in the Lutyens Delhi.


-Hundreds of people have gathered outside the residence of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Delhi since Thursday morning to pay their last respects to the departed leader.


-The BJP government in Chhattisgarh has announced a seven-day state mourning, beginning Friday, following the demise of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.


-Visuals of trucks which will be a part of the convoy in which former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's mortal remains will be taken to BJP headquarters and for the funeral. 



-Here's how newspapers covered former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's demise.



-The American people and I stand with the people of India as we mourn Prime Minister Vajpayee’s passing.  Today, we hold the people of India in our thoughts and prayer: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement. 



-Keeping in mind the final procession of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Delhi Police issues a traffic advisory for the national capital.



-Pakistan Prime Minister-designate Imran Khan offered his condolences on the demise of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saying the best way to honour the "towering leader" is by establishing peace between India & Pakistan.



 


Among those who paid homage to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) co-founder were Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, BJP president Amit Shah, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, BJP veterans Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and former President Pranab Mukherjee, among others.


Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has issued an elaborate traffic advisory for the national capital, saying several roads, primarily in the vicinity of central Delhi, would be closed for general traffic. The Delhi Police traffic department has, however, also suggested alternative routes if travel is necessary.


His demise sent shockwaves across India as well as other parts of the world. Tributes are pouring in for Vajpayee from other parts of the world as well. The US Embassy in New Delhi said that the country grieved with India on the loss of the former prime minister. “He will be remembered for his immense contribution in bolstering US-India relations,” said the US Embassy.