New Delhi: The mortal remains of VHP leader Ashok Singhal were consigned to flames at Nigambodh Ghat here today amid chanting of vedic hymns in the presence of scores of BJP and VHP leaders.
The pyre was lit by Singhal's nephew Salil, son of his elder brother Parmod in the presence of family members, VHP and BJP leaders including L K Advani and Amit Shah and several union ministers including Piyush Goyal, Ravishankar Prasad, J P Nadda and Harsh Vardhan.
Among others present at the cremation were Union Ministers Uma Bharti and Ananth Kumar, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Gujarat Governor O P Kohli and BJP leader from Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and a number of union ministers including Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Radha Mohan Singh, Uma Bharti, Manohar Parrikar and Smriti Irani paid their last respects to Singhal at the RSS office at Jhandewalan here.
Modi placed a wreath on Singhal's body and wrote a condolence message.
89-year-old Singhal died yesterday following cardio-vascular failure and septicaemia after he was admitted to a hospital in Gurgaon with complaints of acute breathlessness and pneumonia.
"His aim was to build a good society, eliminate wrong traditions and the purity in his work will be followed by RSS and BJP," said Coal Minister Piyush Goyal.
VHP's International Working President Pravin Togadia said Singhal, who had played a leading role in the Ram Janambhoomi movement, departed without seeing the Ram temple in his lifetime.
RSS general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi said that Singhal had guided and paved the way for Hindu society.
BJP president Amit shah said that Singhal's commitment and sacrifice for Hindu society will always be remembered.
Ambassadors of Nepal and Bhutan, MPs Yogi Adityanath and Sakshi Maharaj and Yoga guru Ramdev were also present at Singhal's creamation.
