Former Indian PM Chandra Shekhar cremated

INDIA: Former Indian premier Chandra Shekhar was cremated Monday following a state funeral as the government announced a week-long period of mourning.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his cabinet colleagues and several former premiers attended the Hindu-style funeral that included a 21-gun salute at a cremation ground in the capital New Delhi, officials said.

Indian flags at public offices across the country were lowered to half mast to honour Shekhar and government offices shut down during the cremation of the outspoken politician, who served during a period of political instability.

Shekhar died Sunday from cancer after a prolonged illness. He was 80.

The socialist politician became India’s 11th prime minister in 1990 after splitting from his Janata Dal party and formed an unsteady coalition government under a new party that collapsed within eight months.

New Delhi, Tuesday, AFP.