Last rites of ex-President Venkataraman performed

The last rites of former President R Venkataraman, who passed away on Tuesday afternoon at the Army Research and Referral Hospital, New Delhi due to multi-organ failure and Uropsesis, performed Wednesday afternoon at 4.30 pm near Ekta Sthal here with state honour.

To pay the last homage to the deceased, his body was kept at 5 Safdarjung Road till 12 pm, an official sources informed.

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Venkataraman (98) had been admitted in the army hospital on January with the Urosepsis- a toxic condition caused by the extravasations of urine into bodily tissues. He was laid on advanced life support systems, including ventilator support and continuous hemodialysis in the hospital, an official of the hospital said.

He had served the nation as being the eighth president of India, from 1987 to 1992 and earlier as being the 7th vice-president before being elected as the president. He was known for his dignity and fair play. During his five-year term as president he had worked with four prime ministers in whom he appointed three of them - Vishwanath Patap Singh, Chandreshekhar and P V Narsimha Rao- while he took oath in the prime ministership of Rajiv Gandhi.

To mark the respect to former president, the Union government has declared a seven-day state mourning in the country during which flags will fly at half-mast on all government buildings and no official entertainment will take place, an official spokesman said.

Moreover, the Union Cabinet has also decided to cancel the Beating Retreat ceremony and PM's NCC Rally, the two programmes hold annually as part of the Republic Day celebrations on January 29.

Condolence Messages

Several political personalities and leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and chief ministers of States condoled the death of former president citing that he was a true patriot, an outstanding figure and a versatile parliamentarian. His death is a huge loss to the country.

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil and Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari also grieved over the death of the great leader.

Pratibha Patil in her condolence massage said, “Shri Venkataraman was a great parliamentarian and freedom fighter who actively participated in the Quit India Movement. In his passing away, the nation has lost a true patriot and a distinguished luminary.”

While Hamid Ansari said, “In his long public career, Shri Venkataraman left a distinct mark in the society and in the polity with his innate simplicity, vast erudition and experience and deep sensitivity for the poor and the deprived. The country will always remember with gratitude his services for the country. His loss shall be keenly felt.”

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is retrieving rehabilitation speedily in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), said in his condolence message, “The former President will be long remembered for his service to the Nation, his strength of character and his knowledge and wisdom.

“Besides his contribution in the freedom struggle of the country, Venkataraman has also contributed effectively in reinstating the values of Indian politics and culture. He was a true leader, a capable administrator and a mature and simple politician,” said the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.