Indian PM Narendra Modi's mother passes away

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Heeraben passed away at a hospital in Ahmedabad city today at the age of 99.

A bulletin issued by the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre in Ahmedabad, where she was admitted on Wednesday after her health condition deteriorated, announced the news of her demise, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Heeraben's mortal remains were carried on a bier by PM Modi who, along with his brother, lit the pyre at a crematorium in Gandhinagar city.

Heeraben Modi was born in Vadnagar in Mehsana, Gujarat, on June 18, 1923. She is survived by five sons and a daughter, with PM Modi being the third of six children. She lived in Raysan village near Gandhinagar with Modi's younger brother Pankaj Modi.

Tributes poured in for Heeraben Modi. Indian President Draupadi Murmu, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati were among those who condoled the death of PM Modi's mother.

शानदार शताब्दी का ईश्वर चरणों में विराम... मां में मैंने हमेशा उस त्रिमूर्ति की अनुभूति की है, जिसमें एक तपस्वी की यात्रा, निष्काम कर्मयोगी का प्रतीक और मूल्यों के प्रति प्रतिबद्ध जीवन समाहित रहा है। pic.twitter.com/yE5xwRogJi

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 30, 2022

Condoling the passing away of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother, Murmu said Modi imbibed the values of his mother in his life.

Honouring his mother for her "glorious" life, PM Modi took to Twitter to post a moving tribute saying that on her 100th birthday when he met her, she told him something that he will remember forever. "Work with intelligence and live life with purity," the PM's tweet added.

Narendra Modi has often highlighted his mother's influence in shaping his life as he rose from a humble family background to become India's Prime Minister.

As Heeraben had entered the 100th year of her life on June 18 this year, Modi penned a heartfelt tribute in what is probably his most detailed impression of his mother in the public realm.

In the blog, he highlighted her sacrifices and various aspects of his mother's life which "shaped" his mind, personality and self-confidence.

Rahul Gandhi tweeted "the news of the demise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Heeraba is very sad.In this difficult time, I express my deepest condolences and affection to him and his family members."