Grateful Singapore bids adieu to its founding leader Lee

Singapore, March 29

Tens of thousands of teary-eyed Singaporeans today braved torrential rain to bid adieu to the country’s founding leader Lee Kuan Yew in a grand funeral attended by a host of world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who described him as one of the “tallest leaders of our times”.

Ninety-one-year-old Lee, the city-state’s Prime Minister for 31 years and widely respected as the architect of Singapore’s prosperity, died of severe pneumonia on March 23. Global dignitaries, including Monarchs, Presidents, Prime Ministers and former leaders, joined hundreds of thousands of Singaporeans at a state funeral service which was telecast live and streamed on various social media. Modi arrived in Singapore this morning and attended the service.

Soon after his arrival here, Prime Minister Modi lauded Lee as a “global thinker” and said India deeply valued his friendship and his support for its economic progress.

Modi, who had earlier visited Singapore as Gujarat Chief Minister in October 2006, said the former Singapore Prime Minister was “among the tallest leaders of our times”.

After eulogies ended at the three-hour state funeral, defence sirens were blown throughout Singapore’s housing estates for a minute of silence to pay respects, as the last post was played by a military bugler.

The ceremony ended with the singing of the Malay- language national anthem “Majulah Singapura”, after which Lee’s remains were driven to a private cremation service. — PTI

Modi meets Israeli Prez  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and discussed the bilateral relations. Modi had a short meeting with Rivlin who reiterated an invitation to him to visit Israel. The exact dates would be decided through diplomatic channels, said External Affairs Ministry Spokesman Syed Akbaruddin.