Patiala, July 25: Rajmata Mohinder Kaur, matriarch of the erstwhile Patiala royalty and mother of Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, passed away after prolonged illness at her Moti Mahal residence in Patiala on Monday evening. The cremation would be held at Shahi Samadhan, the royal crematorium, on Tuesday. Designated by tradition as ‘Rajmata’, the royal mother,she was the last anointed queen of the princely state ruled by the Phulkian dynasty. She also remained a member of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Two months short of 95, Rajmata had been keeping unwell for some time. She breathed her last at 7.24 pm, as a result of multiple system failure triggered by a natural weakening due to old age, according to an official spokesperson. Former Union minister and Amarinder’s wife Preneet Kaur was with her. Amarinder rushed to Patiala, hence the cabinet meeting and other programmes scheduled for Tuesday stand cancelled.
Heavy police force was deployed to control traffic and the public in Patiala ahead of Mhinder Kaur’s funeral procession on Tuesday. “We are expecting turnout of several thousands,” said a police officer.
Her body will be taken on a specially decorated vehicle that will start from New Moti Bagh Palace, reach Fountain Chowk, move to Mall Road, Shera Walan Gate, Dharampura Bazaar and other areas, for people to pay homage before the cremation at Shahi Samadhan.
A spokesperson said the funeral procession would start from the palace at 12.45 pm. The cremation is scheduled for 2.15pm
News Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com
