Veteran JD(U) leader Ramsharay Singh cremated

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who has been deeply hurt due to death of Singh, remained for long time at assembly premises, JD(U) office and at Digha ghat to pay respect to the departed leader.

Singh (83) had died on Saturday night at a private hospital in Gurgaon. His son Rajeev Niranjan lit the funeral pyre.

With his political career spanning nearly five decades, Singh was Deputy leader of JD(U) in state Legislative Council.

Earlier, a stream of leaders from all parties paid homage to Singh at his residence at Kankerbagh locality.

Later, his mortal remains was brought to the state legislature premises to enable the members of the two houses to offer their homage to the departed leader.

Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and a large number of state Cabinet ministers including Water Resources minister Vijay Chaudhary, HRD minister P K Shahi, Fishery minister Giriraj Singh and his counterpart in SC & ST department Jeetan Ram Manjhi were present.

As part of state honour, the departed leader was given gun salute by policemen at the burning ghat.

Singh, who had served Congress in the state since 1962 when he became MLC for the first time, had joined JD(U) on the eve of 2005 assembly elections which had brought Nitish Kumar to power.