By IANS
New Delhi : Eminent jurist, parliamentarian and diplomat L.M. Singhvi was Sunday cremated at the Lodhi Road crematorium here amid chants of Vedic mantras in the presence of a host of dignitaries and legal luminaries.
Those present at the cremation included Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal, former deputy prime minister L.K. Advani, former law minister Arun Jaitley and Uttarkhand Chief Minister B.C. Khanduri.
Earlier, Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Singhvi’s residence at Niti Bagh in South Delhi to pay their last respects to him.
President Pratibha Patil condoled Singhvi’s death. In a message to Singhvi’s widow Kamla Singhvi, the president said, “In the passing away of Dr. Singhvi, the nation has lost a prominent constitutional expert, eminent jurist, renowned scholar, able parliamentarian and distinguished diplomat.”
In his condolence message to Singhvi’s son Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Manmohan Singh described the late parliamentarian as “one of the most distinguished jurists, constitutional experts and legal minds.”
Manmohan Singh said, “More importantly, he was a great scholar who had a deep understanding of our ethos, our culture and our civilisational values. He also proved to be a highly regarded diplomat and member of parliament. His absence will be deeply felt in the world of public affairs.”
The vice-president described Singhvi as “a distinguished jurist and man of great vision.”
Singhvi, who was India’s longest serving high commissioner in London, died in a Delhi hospital Saturday after a brief illness.