IMPHAL: The last rites of former Manipur chief minister Rishang Keishing will be performed at the headquarters of the newly set up Kamjong district, 8 km from his native Bungpa village, on Friday.Victor Keishing, the veteran leader's son, said Keishing's body will be kept at Manipur PCC complex here where floral tributes would be paid by party workers and wellwishers. Later, the body will be taken to Manipur Baptist Church here for a state funeral service after which it will be taken to Kamjong, said a government statement.On Wednesday, hordes of people paid their last respects to the departed soul and recalled the leader's resolute call for a hill-valley united Manipur. Keishing, a Tangkhul Naga leader, died of multi-orgain failure at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here on Tuesday. He was 97.Governor Najma Heptulla, opposition leader and former chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, PCC president TN Haokip and a number of ministers, MLAs and well wishers paid floral tributes to the leader at his Mantripukhri residence here. In her condolence message, Heptulla said Keishing dedicated his whole life for the development and welfare of the people of the state. "He served the state and the people tirelessly throughout his life. His passing away is an irreparable loss," she added.As a mark of respect to the departed soul, government offices and educational institutions remained closed on Wednesday.Keishing was a Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and was a Rajya Sabha MP till 2014. He was elected to the first Lok Sabha in 1952 on a Socialist Party ticket. Later, he joined Congress under the tutelage of the country's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru , in 1964. After Manipur attained statehood in 1972, Rishang represented the Phungyar constituency for seven consecutive terms till 2002.Keishang did his high schooling from Churachand High School, Imphal , then Kohima Government High School and finally did his matriculation from Jorhat Christian High School at Assam (1944-45). He studied higher secondary at St Paul's Cathedral College in Calcutta and graduated from Calcutta University in 1949.Chief minister N Biren Singh remembered Keishing as one of the longest serving chief ministers of the state. Biren, who is currently in Bengaluru, said, "Keishing's contribution towards Manipur's progress will always be remembered. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family." Ibobi Singh recalled Keishing's advice to him to make a united Manipur. "His (Keishing) wish for a peaceful co-existence and oneness among all communities in the hills and valley shows how much he loved Manipur," said Ibobi.The BJP's Manipur unit, in a condolence meeting held at his Nityaipat Chuthek office here on Wednesday, observed a two-minute silence to pay respect to the departed soul. N Nimbus Singh, general secretary of the state unit of saffron party, in a statement, said the party is saddened by the demise of veteran politician Keishing. Before joining politics, Keishing served as a at school teacher at his native Bungpa village where he was born on October 25 ,1920.Consumer affairs, food and public distribution minister Karam Shyam said, "We have lost an ideal leader and a great son of Manipur who dedicated his entire life for the welfare of the state and people. Keishing was a source of inspiration for the entire state, particularly for the youth."

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