Amid slogans of “Rajmata Amar Rahe” (Long live the Rajmata) and showering of petals from a large crowd, chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh lit the pyre to bid a tearful adieu to his mother, Rajmata Mohinder Kaur, at the Shahi Samadhan — the family’s ancestral cremation ground — on Tuesday.
Captain Amarinder’s brother Malwinder Singh and son Raninder Singh, and grandsons, Yajuvendra Singh, Nirvan Singh and Angad Singh joined him in lighting the pyre.
People had stated gathering at the Moti Bagh palace since morning for a last glimpse (antim darshan) of their beloved ‘Rajmata’.
The funeral procession started from Moti Bagh Palace at about 1pm and went through the streets of Patiala. Apart from the immediate family, Captain Amarinder’s brothers-in-law — former Union minister Natwar Singh and Major Kanwaljit Singh Dhillon — were also present at the funeral, with families.
Among those who paid their respects to the Rajmata were Punjab governor VP Singh Badnore and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Rana KP Singh, all cabinet ministers, former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunil Jakhar were also present.
AAP MP from Patiala Dharamvir Gandhi, president of Apna Punjab Party Sucha Singh Chhotepur, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann, SAD MLAs Parminder Singh Dhindsa and NK Sharma, and Trinamool Congress Punjab unit leader Jagmeet Singh Brar, were also present.
Rajmata is survived by two sons (Amarinder and Malwinder) and two daughters (Heminder Kaur, wife of Natwar Singh, and Rupinder Kaur, wife of Major Dhillon).
Badal and family visit New Moti Bagh Palace
After the cremation, former CM Parkash Singh Badal and former deputy CM and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal also visited the New Moti Bagh Palace, to express their condolences. Former cabinet ministers Bikram Singh Majithia, Tota Singh, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, were also with the Badals. Former CM Badal had landed in Patiala after attending the swearing-in ceremony of the President of India at New Delhi. He and Amarinder spent an hour together. BJP state president and Union Minister Vijay Sampla was also present.
PM tweets condolence
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Rajmata Mohinder Kaur. The PM tweeted, “Saddened by demise of Rajmata Mohinder Kaur. Her dedication to serving society was remarkable. Condolences to @Capt_Amarinder and his family.”
Saddened by demise of Rajmata Mohinder Kaur. Her dedication to serving society was remarkable. Condolences to @capt_amarinder & his family.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 24, 2017
