CDS Gen Rawat, wife cremated with full military honours; daughters perform final rites

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Dec 10, 2021: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat were cremated with full military honours at the Brar Square crematorium in Delhi on Friday. The last rites were performed by their daughters, Kritika and Tarini.

 

The bodies of General Rawat and his wife had been laid side by side on the same pyre.

In line with the protocol, General Rawat was accorded a 17-gun salute.

A total of 800 service personnel were in attendance for the military funeral of General Rawat at the crematorium.

Before the final rites were performed, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had paid his tribute at the crematorium.

A ceremonial battery of 2233 Field Regiment provided the gun carriage.

Decked with flowers, and accompanied by dozens of civilians shouting ’Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and waving the national flag, the gun carriage carrying the bodies drove slowly through the city before reaching Delhi Cantonment.

General Rawat’s mortal remains were laid to state on Friday morning at 3, Kamraj Marg, and were there from 11 am till 1.30 pm to enable people to pay their homage.Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were among several leaders to lay wreaths and pay respect to General Rawat and his wife at their official residence in Delhi this morning before cremation.

The funeral of Brigadier Lakhwinder Singh Lidder, defence assistant to General Rawat and another victim of the chopper crash, was held at Delhi Cantonment earlier in the day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night led tributes to all those who were killed in the chopper crash.

Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh military commanders also attended Bipin Rawat’s last rites.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also laid their wreaths on the mortal remains of Gen Rawat and his wife.

General Rawat, his wife, and 11 other defence personnel were killed when a Mi17V5 helicopter carrying them crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

Courtesy:India Today