General Bipin Rawat, the Chief of the Defence Staff, was laid to rest in Delhi this evening with full military honors, as government leaders and military officials paid mute respect. His daughters, Kritika and Tarini, were in charge of the cremation.
As bugles sounded in the backdrop, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid his respects to Gen Rawat. A long line of senior defense officials, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, were also present to pay tribute.
Gen Rawat and his wife, Madhulika Rawat, were cremated with full military honors at the Brar Square Crematorium, where his aide, Brigadier LS Lidder, had been laid to rest just hours before. There were elaborate plans in place, with 800 service personnel participating.
The gun carriage carrying the remains proceeded slowly through the city before reaching the Delhi Cantonment, decorated with flowers and escorted by scores of bystanders yelling ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai and waving the national flag. Drummers played a tribute as military members from the Army, Navy, and Air Force marched alongside.
A throng of mourners descended on Gen Rawat’s mansion in Delhi beginning at 11 a.m., where his wife and he lay in state for family, friends, colleagues, and the general public to pay their final respects. Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were among those who came to express their condolences.
