State funeral will be accorded to Paswan; flags to fly half mast-Government
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in/ Chandigarh
Central government has announced that “State funeral will be accorded to Cabinet Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in the Narendra Modi led NDA government, Ram Vilas Paswan, who expired, late last night”. Paswan was also the president of the Lok Janshakti Party.
In a communiqué sent to all the chief secretaries of all the states and administrators of all the union territories, by the union home ministry, has also asked the state governments and administrators of the union territories “ to half mast the national flag in the national capital Delhi and the state capitals, where it is flown regularly on October 9, 2020 and on the day of funeral at the place where the funeral takes place.’
Paswan who died on October 8,2020, had an illustrious career of more than five decades. The veteran Dalit leader died at the age of 74 at a private hospital where he had recently undergone a heart operation. Paswan was currently a Rajya Sabha member. His death news was announced by his son Chirag Paswan through twitter.
Elected for the first time as an MLA in 1969 as a member of an anti-Congress front after quitting his job as a police official, he rose through the ranks of various socialist parties and became a leading Dalit face.
During a State funeral-
A state mourning or National day of mourning is officially declared.
The national flag is flown at half mast as per the Flag Code of India. This decision solely lies with the President of India, who also decides the period for which flag is to be flown at half mast.
A public holiday is declared.
The deceased person’s bier or coffin is draped with the national flag with saffron towards the head of the bier or coffin while lying in state. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or burnt in the pyre.
He/She is honored with a gun salute when being buried or cremated.
October 9,2020
