Badal (Punjab): BJP national president JP Nadda, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Harjinder Singh Dhami were among those who paid their last respects to SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal here on Thursday.
The Akali stalwart will be cremated at the family's agriculture land where a raised platform has been erected for performing the last rites. Badal died on Tuesday at the age of 95. The mortal remains of Badal were kept at his residence for the last 'darshan' with people in large numbers queuing up to pay tributes and express grief with the family.
Badals's son Sukhbir Badal, his wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal, their two daughters and a son stood besides the remains of the Akali stalwart at their residence. The cremation will take place at around 1 pm.
Former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, the estranged nephew of Parkash Singh Badal, and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia, were among those who paid their last respects to the Akali leader besides ex Union minister Praful Patel and BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa. Condoling the former chief minister's death, Sirsa said Badal was an institution in himself and with his death, an era has ended.
