Mysuru: Rakesh Siddaramaiah laid to rest

 

• Body of CM’s son was kept for public viewing at Dasara Expo Grounds in Mysuru

 

Mysuru, 01 Aug 2016: Tens of thousands of people, including elderly and women, turned up to catch a last glimpse of Rakesh Siddaramaiah, son of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and pay floral tributes to him.

 

On Monday, a sea of humanity surged into Dasara Expo Grounds where the body of 39-year-old Rakesh, who died of multi-organ failure at Brussels on Saturday, was kept for public viewing.

 

A special aircraft carrying the body, Mr. Siddaramaiah, his family members and others arrived at Mysuru airport around 11.10 a.m.

 

As it was announced earlier that the public viewing will be allowed till 2 p.m., VIPs and crowds thronged the venue in large numbers since morning to pay homage to Rakesh, who was all set to enter electoral politics from Varuna constituency, now represented by Mr. Siddaramaiah.

 

 

The body, accompanied by Home Minister G. Parameshwara and Minister in-charge of Mysuru district H.C. Mahadevappa, was brought to the venue around 12.40 p.m. in a special funeral vehicle.

 

The surge of humanity to the venue was evident but the police perhaps misjudged the turnout and arrangements proved inadequate. The police had a tough time controlling the crowds with many senior political leaders caught in the crowd.

 

VIPs, including Ministers, MLAs, party leaders, had a tough time paying tributes, as there was chaos at the VIP arena with many entering the area, catching the police off-guard.

 

Special access was made to Governor Vajubhai R. Vala and senior leaders from various parties, including Mallikarjuna Kharge, Digvijay Singh, S.M. Krishna, M. Veerappa Moily, Kagodu Thimmappa, K.H. Muniyappa, B.S. Yeddyurappa, D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Jagadish Shettar, H.D. Kumaraswamy and former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy into the VIP area.

 

As the leaders paid floral tributes, an evidently grief stricken Mr. Siddaramaiah stood next to the body. Sources said Mr. Siddaramaiah was attached to Rakesh and wanted him to make it big in politics. He broke down when top political leaders consoled him. Mr. Gowda, Assembly Speaker K.B. Koliwad, minister D.K. Shivakumar, and Mr. Siddaramaiah’s close aid and former minister Baburao Chinchansur also broke down when they hugged him (Mr. Siddaramaiah). Actors Darshan Toogudeepa, Shashikumar and heads of religious maths also paid their homage.

 

The body was later taken to T. Katur for the burial at Rakesh’s farmhouse, where he had build his “dream house”. The body was taken to the farmhouse in a special funeral vehicle.

 

The body was kept for public viewing under specially erected temporary tents outside the farmhouse. Several mourners filed past the barricades to catch a glimpse of Rakesh. The general public was barred entry into the farmhouse, where the last rites were performed. Family members, close relatives and senior politicians were present at the farmhouse. Niranjananandapuri Swamiji of Kaginele Kanaka Guru Peetha was present.