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Thousands pay homage to Rajmata

Ramesh Menon in Gwalior

Thousands of mourners from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh tearfully filed past the body of Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia in Gwalior on Friday. It took them hours to pay their last respects, but they patiently awaited their turn.

The mourners, who could not hide their emotions, were mainly from Guna, Bhind, Shivpuri, Morena, Datia and Seopore that once made up the old state of Gwalior.

Sitting close to the body was her only son Madhavrao and daughters Vasundhara, Yashodhara and Usharaje.

That Madhya Pradesh was mourning the loss of a leader they admired and respected was evident all over. Republic Day functions were cancelled. So were all cultural programmes. Saturday has been declared a state holiday to mourn the Rajmata's death.

The state administration is busy making last minute plans for the funeral procession. Fifty thousand visitors from all over India are expected for the ceremony.

The funeral procession will start from the Rani Mahal and wend its way through the streets of Gwalior ending at the Gajraraje Matushree Chattri, the royal cremation ground of the Scindia family.

The Rajmata will be cremated at a spot next to where her husband Jivajirao's last rites were performed. The procession through the city is expected to take around six hours as thousands of mourners are already in the city.

It will be the biggest funeral the state has ever seen.

Hotels are overflowing and it is difficult to find a taxi. The city is soaked with grief for their beloved Rajmata Saheb is no more.

The state government has deputed two cabinet ministers, Mahendra Singh Kalukheda and K P Singh to supervise the arrangements.

As many as 2,000 policemen and 25 IPS officers have been called in for security arrangements and traffic control that threatens to go out of gear.

The list of personages confirming their arrival is getting longer and longer. Among them are Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Vice-President Krishan Kant, Rajasthan Governor Anshuman Singh, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi and Uttaranchal Chief Minister Nityanand Swami.

Also arriving are over a dozen Union ministers, 80 ministers, 100 legislators from various states and over 30 members of Parliament. Also expected are members of the royal families of Jammu and Kashmir, Nepal, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

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