Sheila Dikshit's last rites at 2:30pm; to be accorded state-funeral
The last rites of former Delhi Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader, Sheila Dikshit who passed away on Saturday, will be performed at Nigam Bodh Ghat at 2:30 pm on Sunday. Her mortal remains have been kept at her Nizamuddin residence for people to pay respects and will be taken to the Congress headquarters later today before the last rites. Here are more details.
Dikshit died of a cardiac arrest at a Delhi hospital
Dikshit, the three-time Delhi Chief Minister, had breathed her last at 3:55 pm on Saturday, said her family members. She was admitted to Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in Delhi's Okhla in a critical condition on Saturday. She died after a cardiac arrest, despite all resuscitative efforts, according to the hospital. She was 81. Her body was taken to her home from the hospital.
Fortis released a statement following Dikshit's death
"A multi-disciplinary team of doctors, led by Dr. Ashok Seth, Chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, carried out the advanced resuscitative measures," Fortis said in a statement, following Dikshit's death. "Her condition stabilized temporarily. However, she had another cardiac arrest and despite all the resuscitative efforts, passed away at 3:55 pm on 20th of July 2019," it added.
Delhi Government declares two-day state mourning
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia, said that the Delhi Government has declared a two-day state mourning in the national capital as a mark of respect for Dikshit. The three-time Delhi CM will be accorded a state funeral at the Nigam Bodh Ghat on Sunday.
Sonia Gandhi, PM Modi and many leaders visited her residence
A number of leaders visited Dikshit's residence on Saturday to pay their last respects to the former Delhi CM. Among them were UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress leaders Ahmed Patel and Jyotiraditya Scindia, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, BJP leader Vijay Goel, and CPI(M) leaders Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat. PM Narendra Modi, accompanied by Delhi BJP President Manoj Tiwari, also visited her residence.
Dikshit served as the Delhi CM for 15 years
Dikshit served as the Chief Minister of Delhi for three consecutive terms between 1998 and 2013. AAP's Arvind Kejriwal succeeded her as the Delhi CM after Congress's defeat in the 2013 Delhi Assembly Elections. She was appointed as the Kerala Governor in 2014, but resigned after five months. She was serving as the Delhi Congress President, she had assumed the charge in January.
