The government on Monday said Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw was held in 'high esteem' and that a State funeral had been accorded to him as a mark of respect for him.

If you have to die, do so around Delhi or Mumbai

Brushing aside criticism that the government and defence ministry had been slow in reacting to the death of the Field Marshal, a recipient of Padma Vibhushan, Defence Minister A K Antony said according a State funeral to the late military leader was ample proof that he was held in high esteem.

In fact, it was Antony who had got in touch with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] to have the victor of Bangladesh liberation war given a State funeral and despatching Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju to represent the government at the funeral, sources said.

A man who always thought ahead

"People can have different opinions on what should have been done after the Field Marshal's demise, but the fact is the government decision to accord State funeral is proof enough to show we hold him in high esteem," Antony said.

The Defence Minister led the mourners to sign the condolence book placed next to the Martyrs' Memorial to allow dignitaries and public to record their grief over the passing away of the legendary Field Marshal.

Have you met Manekshaw? | Pay your tribute

Antony was the first to sign the condolence book in which he described Manekshaw as the 'Marshal who led from the front'.

The country's sole surviving Marshal Arjan Singh, who is the Marshal of the Air Force, was next and he termed Manekshaw as one of the leading field commanders in India's history.