Vajpayee cremated with full state honors in Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 17: Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was cremated with full state honours at Smriti Sthal on the banks of the Yamuna in Delhi. His adopted daughter Namita Bhattacharya lit the funeral pyre and the poet-politician was given a gun salute. His body was shifted on Friday morning from his residence to the BJP headquarters, where scores of leaders, cutting across party lines, paid tribute to the leader throughout the day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah walked beside the coffin as it was brought to Smriti Sthal. Vajpayee, a stalwart of the BJP, passed away on Thursday after battling a prolonged illness at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He was 93. The charismatic leader is survived by his adopted daughter Namita Kaul Bhattacharya. The government has announced seven days of state mourning, and the national flag will be flown at half-mast for seven days across the country.