#Rameswaram The mortal remains of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, who passed away on Monday, was laid to rest with full state honours, including a 21-gun salute at his native island town, Rameswaram, in Tamil Nadu on Thursday afternoon.After a guard of honour given by the tri-forces, the Prime Minister laid a wreath and paid his last respects to the 11th President of the country. He was followed by Mr. Rosaiah, Union Ministers Venkaiah Naidu, Manohar Parikkar and MoS Pon. Radhakrishnan.
Later, Tamil Nadu Ministers, led by Finance Minister, O. Pannerselvam, paid a floral tribute on behalf of the State Government as the indisposed Chief Minister Jayalalithaa could not attend the funeral.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad also paid their respects.
Mr. Kalam’s elder brother, 98-year-old A.P.J. Maraikkayar, was present on the occasion.
Defence personnel of the tri-services formally handed over the body to the relatives of Mr. Kalam.
After a series of rituals and prayers, the body was interned in the cemetry amidst shouting of slogan “Bharat Matha Ki Jai,” by thousands of mourners who attended the funeral at Pei Karumbu along Madurai highway.
Kerala Governor N. Sadasivam, Chief Ministers Siddharamaiah of Karnataka, N. Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh, and Oommen Chandy of Kerala, his predecessor, V.S. Achuthanandan, Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly, Vijayakanth, leaders of political parties, E.V.K.S. Elangovan (Congress), G.K. Vasan (Tamil Maanila Congress) and Tamilisai Soundarajan (BJP), R. Anbumani (PMK), Vaiko (MDMK) were among those present.
Earlier the body was brought in a procession from his home, House of Kalam, before rituals were performed in a local mosque.
Thousands of people from across the State joined in the last procession of the People’s President.
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