ADIEU ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE

New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's mortal remains were consigned to flames with full state honours today at Smriti Sthal in New Delhi.

The 93-year-old BJP stalwart breathed his last at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) yesterday in the national capital after struggling with health ailments for nine weeks.

Several foreign dignitaries including King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Sri Lanka acting Foreign Minister Lakshman Kiriella and Pakistan Law Minister Ali Zafar paid their last respects at Smriti Sthal.

Earlier, President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu paid their last respects to the former prime minister. Among prominent Union Ministers and politicians, former PM Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP President Amit Shah, senior BJP leader LK Advani, Congress President Rahul Gandhi were present at the funeral site.