Delhi govt announces two-day mourning, state funeral for Sheila Dikshit

NEW DELHI: Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit will be accorded a state funeral as a mark of respect, the Delhi government announced after the demise of the Congress leader. “Delhi government has decided to observe a two-day state mourning as a mark of respect in the memory of former chief minister and veteran leader Sheila Dikshit. She will be accorded a state funeral,” deputy CM Manish Sisodia stated on Twitter.


CM Arvind Kejriwal, along with Sisodia, visited Dikshit’s residence in South Delhi where her mortal remains have been kept to pay tributes.
Expressing shock on the sudden demise, CM Arvind Kejriwal stated on Twitter that it was a piece of extremely terrible news. “It is a huge loss for Delhi and her contribution will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to her family members. May her soul rest in peace,” he said.

A statement released by CM’s office said that the news of the sudden demise of Dikshit has shocked the CM. “Only last month I had met her for nearly an hour when she came with her party’s delegation to submit a memorandum on several issues, at the end of the meeting I wished her good health, not knowing that this would be my last meeting with her,” Kejriwal was quoted in the statement.
“Though we were political rivals and our views were opposite on many issues, I found Dikshit to be warm and an affectionate person whenever we met. I came to know about her health concerns last year, when she had written to the Delhi government about her surgery requirements abroad, which was successful, but I could never imagine that she would leave us so soon,” he added.
“The void left by her can never be filled,” he said in the statement adding that she understood the issues concerning Delhi very well.
Kejriwal and Sisodia who were scheduled to leave on Saturday evening on a pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine cancelled their visit. They were joining a group of senior citizens who left for the pilgrimage under CM’s free pilgrimage scheme for senior citizens.
In Video:Delhi Govt to declare 2-day state mourning over Sheila Dikshit’s demise: Manish Sisodia