In Photos: Sheila Dikshit’s last journey through Delhi as family, politicians attend last rites

Colleagues, Congress workers and admirers braved heavy rains to bid Sheila Dikshit a final farewell during her last rites on 21 July.

Sheila Dikshit's last journey through Delhi | Praveen Jain/ThePrint

New Delhi: The last rites of former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit were performed with full state honours at the Nigambodh Ghat on Sunday. Colleagues, Congress workers and admirers braved heavy rains and gusty winds to bid her a final farewell and pay their respects.

Photos by Praveen Jain and Suraj Singh Bisht:

AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra paid homage to Dikshit when her body was brought to the party headquarters. | Photo by Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

Former PM Manmohan Singh said that with Dikshit’s death “the country has lost a dedicated Congress leader of the masses.” | Photo by Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

Noticeably missing at the AICC headquarters was former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who left for the United States on 17 July. | Photo by Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

Dikshit, who passed away Saturday afternoon in Escorts hospital from long-standing cardiac complications, was the longest female chief minister in India’s history. She governed Delhi as CM for 15 years starting 1998.

Sheila Dikshit’s body was taken to Nigambodh Ghat for her last rites to be performed on Sunday | Photo by Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

Sheila Dikshit, the veteran old-school politician, sailed through many storms in her long political innings | Photo: Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were present at the funeral, along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and Home Minister Satyendar Jain.

Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi | Photo by Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Home Minister Amit Shah at Nigambodh Ghat on Sunday | Photo by Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Tiwari’s presence is significant, as the Bhojpuri film star and singer defeated Dikshit from the North East Delhi constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by a comfortable margin of over three lakh votes. Times of grief, however, dissolve fences dividing political friends and foes.

BJP Delhi Chief Manoj Tiwari at Sheila Dikshit’s funeral on Sunday | Photo by Praveen Jain | ThePrint

On hearing of her demise yesterday, AAP leader and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said that “Though we were political rivals and our views were opposite on many issues, I found Mrs Dikshit to be warm and an affectionate person whenever we met.”

Current chief minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal makes his way through security at Sheila Dikshit’s funeral. | ThePrint

It was a day of harsh weather in the capital, but for long-time colleagues of Dikshit like senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, it did not prove to be a deterrence. | Photo by Praveen Jain | ThePrint

According to a report by Greater Kashmir, Azad “expressed deep shock and grief over the passing away of the veteran Congress leader.”

The leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha and senior Congress leader said that Dikshit was “a stalwart of the party, who served the party and people in different capacities with great devotion and commitment.”

(With inputs from PTI)