The body of Kazi Lhendup Dorjee arrives for keeping in state in Sikkim
Rangpo & Rumtek,August1: Sikkimese and other dignitaries today on August1 paid their respect to the Shri Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangserpa, the first Chief Minister of Sikkim, who passed away on Monday of cardiac failure at his residence Chakung House in Kalimpong .
The childless widower Kazi Sahib was 103 years old and is known as Man who ushered in democracy in Sikkim.
The body of Kazi Lhendup Dorjee was brought out of his residential precincts in Chakung House in Kalimpong town to Sikkim in the early afternoon by K.T.Gyltsen who as envoy of Sikkim Chief minister Dr.Pawan Chamling went to Kalimpong to receive it.The body of Kazi Sahib is to lie in state at Old Rumtek Monastery for assembled dignitaries and officers and staff of the Government of Sikkim as well as general public of Sikkim to pay their homage.
Funeral arrangements is made by Government of Sikkim to give a full state honours with 21 gun salute on Friday.
Today at Rangpo Sikkim Police led by its Senior Officers provided an escort and guard of honour while bringing in the casket containing the body in territory of Sikkim .The body was draped in the Tricolour and Cabinet Minister Somnath Podyal along with advisor of Chief Minister B.B.Gooroong were present in Rangpo to accompany the Kazi Sahib in his last earthly journey to Rumtek. Sikkim M.P. NukulRai joined the caravan at Ranipool .
Members of the state government stood huddled together in a block as local dignitaries filed past the body, which is to be taken to the historical old Rumtek Gompa in the Rumtek for public display and religious ceremonies before being finally cremated on August 3,2007
Traders at Rangpo downed shutters for an hour to pay their respects to the leader, who played an instrumental role in Sikkim’s merger with India.
