Barinder Saluja, Chandigarh, Aug 3 : The Mortal Remains of Jaswant Kaur, widow of former Chief Minister of Punjab Beant Singh, were consigned to flames with full state honours here on Tuesday. The pyre was lit by her son and congress MLA Tej Parkash Singh. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his ministerial colleagues, Manoranjan Kalia, Laxmi Kanta Chawla and Master Mohan Lal were among those present.
While former Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh was conspicuous by his absence, but leader of opposition in Punjab assembly, Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal ans Punjab Congress president Mohinder Singh Kaypee were present on the cremation.
Earlier, Governor of Punjab H.E. Shivraj V Patil laid a wreath on the body of Jaswant Kaur along with other high profile leaders of Punjab Congress and Akali Dal. The cremation was held near the Memorial of Beant Singh in sector 42. Jaswant Kaur died exactly 15 years after Beant Singh was assassinated in August 1995.
This was only Second time that Chandigarh Administration allowed to cremate a body outside authorised cremation ground in sector 25, after Beant Singh.