By IANS,
Puttaparthi (Andhra Pradesh) : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi Tuesday paid their last respects to spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba, who died on Sunday.
The two leaders, who flew in here by a special aircraft from New Delhi, drove to Prashanti Nilayam for a last glimpse of the spiritual leader.
They laid wreaths and sat by the side of Baba’s body in Sai Kulwant Hall amid the chanting of vedic hymns and songs in praise of the spiritual guru.
Members of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust received the two leaders, who were accompanied by central ministers S.M. Krishna, Ambika Soni and Pannabaka Lakshmi.
Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy were also present.
Manmohan Singh had visited Puttaparthi in Nov 23 last year to participate in the 85th birthday celebrations of Baba.
Earlier, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Swami Nityanand and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal paid their homage to Baba.
The godman died Sunday, 28 days after he was admitted to Sathya Sai Super-speciality Hospital with multi-organ dysfunction.