Flag at half-mast for Arjan today

The home ministry on Sunday said state funeral will be accorded to the Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh and the national flag will fly at half-mast at all government buildings here Monday in his honour. Top leaders of the country also paid respects to the air veteran praising him for his contribution to the armed forces.

Tributes were paid to the Marshal of the Indian Air Force by President Ram Nath Kovind, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba at Mr Singh’s residence, where his mortal remains are lying instate. Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vicepresident Rahul Gandhi too condoled the passing away of the air warrior.

The last rites of Mr Singh, who passed away at the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital on Saturday, would be performed at Brar Square here at 10 am on Monday.

“As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, a state funeral will be accorded and national flag will fly half-mast on the day of the funeral in Delhi at all buildings where it is flown regularly,” a home ministry spokesperson said.

The defence ministry said Mr Singh’s mortal remains will be taken to the funeral site from his residence in a gun carriage procession. It said a gun salute will be given and a fly past will be organised before the final rites.

Arjan Singh, the hero of the 1965 India-Pakistan war and the only Air Force officer to be promoted to five-star rank, died here on Saturday at the age of 98.

Air Chief B.S. Dhanoa described the late Marshal of the Indian Air Force as a legend, philanthropist and a flying chief who led from the front.