India declares state mourning on Sunday
NEW DELHI: Paying tributes to Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on Thursday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that she will be remembered as "a stalwart of our times".
"Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be remembered as a stalwart of our times. She provided inspiring leadership to her nation and people. She personified dignity and decency in public life. Pained by her demise. My thoughts are with her family and people of UK in this sad hour," said Modi in a tweet while paying tribute to her.
Prime Minister Modi recalled his meeting with Queen Elizabeth II during his UK visits in a subsequent tweet and said, "I had memorable meetings with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during my UK visits in 2015 and 2018. I will never forget her warmth and kindness. During one of the meetings she showed me the handkerchief Mahatma Gandhi gifted her on her wedding. I will always cherish that gesture."
Meanwhile, the Government of India has declared one-day state mourning as a mark of respect to Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away at the Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Thursday at the age of 96.
The National Flag will be flown at half-mast on Sunday throughout India and there will be no official entertainment programme on that day, a statement issued by the Government said on Friday.
President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, among others, have expressed condolences at the demise of Queen Elizabeth II. In their messages, they noted that she was a stalwart of our times, a compassionate personality and provided inspiring leadership to her nation and people.
The famed 'dabbawala' (tiffin-carrier) community of Mumbai, meanwhile, mourned the passing away of the Queen on Friday. The chairman of Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association Charitable Trust, Ulhas Muke, said that the dabbawalas of Mumbai shared a close association with Britain's royal family.
Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, also mourned the demise of Britain's longest serving monarch, who had reigned for 70 years. (IANS)
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