Several of his grieving supporters and family bid a tearful adieu to veteran freedom fighter and former minister Konda Lakshman Bapuji here on Saturday evening. With tears rolling down her cheeks, the late leader’s daughter Pavitra Vani lit the funeral pyre of her father since both her brothers, Suresh and Umesh, had died several years ago.
Earlier, after much deliberation it was decided to perform the last rites of Bapuji at Jaladrusyam, which used to be the late leader’s residence before he was forcefully evacuated from the place.
The funeral procession commenced from the Padmashali Bhavan in Koti, where Bapuji’s body was kept since Friday afternoon for the people to pay their last respects.
His body was taken out in a procession via Gandhi Bhavan and Gun Park to Jaladrusyam besides the Lumbini Park.
At Gandhi Bhavan, several leaders from the Congress party including Union minister Jaipal Reddy, state ministers P Sabita Indra Reddy, Pithani Satyanarayana, former PCC president D Srinivas, senior Congress leader G Venkataswamy, MPs Madhu Yashki Goud, G Viveka, TDP Rajya Sabha member Devendar Goud, TDP leader Errabali Dayakar and others paid tributes to the departed leader.
Jaipal Reddy, senior Congress leader K Kesava Rao, TDP leader Devendar Goud attended the funeral at Jaladrusyam, where police gave a gun salute.