Monday, December 19 2005 12:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet today (Dec 19,2005) condoledthe death of Power Minister P M Sayeed and decided to accord a State funeral to him in Lakshadweep on Wednesday.

Briefing reporters after the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said the body would arrive here tonight from Seoul where he died yesterday (Dec 18,2005).

"It would be kept at the AICC headquarters for sometime tomorrow (Dec 20,2005) before being flown to Kochi and then to Lakshadweep," he said.

It has been decided that the flag will fly at halfmast in all state capitals today. Since the body would be in Delhi, flags will fly halfmast in Delhi tomorrow also, he said.

Dasmunsi said the Cabinet passed a resolution and placed on record his contribution as a great Parliamentarian, who has been in the Lok Sabha since 1967 winning every elections.

The Cabinet also placed on record his contributions in the power sector, he added.