The social activist and former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitly on Tuesday said that the body of former Defence Minister George Fernandes will be cremated while his ashes will be buried.
Speaking to the media, she stated that “He (Fernandes) had earlier expressed his wish to be cremated, but during his last days, he said he wanted to be buried. So, we will cremate the body and bury the ashes, to fulfil both his wishes.”
Fernandes, 88, who was the Defence Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government when the Kargil War broke out between India and Pakistan died on Tuesday after a prolonged illness.
Jaitly said that “The last rites of him will be performed on Wednesday, We are waiting for his son, who lives in the US. His last rites will be performed tomorrow. His body will be embalmed and put at his residence.”
Earlier the BJP president Amit Shah also tweeted that: “Anguished to learn about the demise of George Fernandes ji. His political persona left an indelible mark on several significant political events over decades. He also held several important ministerial portfolios in the Union cabinet over time.”