KALABURAGI /BIDAR : The mortal remains of veteran Congress leader Bheemanna Khandre (103), who was also a former minister, were laid to rest at Shanti Dhama of Chikkalchanda village of Bhalki taluk, about 8 km from Bhalki town (near his wife Lakshmibai’s samadhi, who breathed her last about a decade ago), with state honours at 6.45 pm on Saturday.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dashed to Bhalki to pay his last respects to the departed soul and consoled Minister for Forest and Environment Eshwar Khandre, Bheemanna Khandre’s son, and Sagar Khandre, MP of Bidar constituency and the Khandre family.
The Chief Minister, who spoke on the occasion, said that Bheemanna Khandre’s 103-year life was a ‘Sarthaka Baduku’. His life was an inspiration to everybody, especially to the youth. He was a socialist by nature and helped the poor, farmers, and everybody who approached him.
The last rites were performed by Eshwar Khandre as per the guidance of seer of the Bhalki Hiremutt Basavalinga Pattada Devaru and Gurubasava Pattada Devaru.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar (who is also the KPCC president), Cabinet colleagues H K Patil, M B Patil, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Priyank Kharge, Sharanabasappa Darshanapur, Rahim Khan, former minister Rajashekhar Patil, former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, State BJP president B Y Vijayendra, and many other political leaders, religious leaders were part of the final rites of the departed leader.
The body of Bheemanna Khandre was kept in the residence from morning till evening to facilitate the people to pay their last respects. Thousands of people, including followers of Bheemanna Khandre and Eshwar Khandre, participated in the procession. Seven rounds were fired in the air and a police band was played as a mark of respect to Bheemanna Khandre.
Bheemanna Khandre, who was ailing from age-related diseases for the last few days, breathed his last at 10.50 pm on Saturday. All shops, business establishments, and schools remained closed from morning in Bhalki. After the district administration announced a holiday on Saturday, all the schools and colleges in Bidar district were closed.