CHANGANASSERY: P K Narayana Panicker, the most prominent figure in the history of the Nair Service Society (NSS) after Mannath Padmanaban, the architect of the organisation, was laid to rest on Thursday.
He was cremated with full state honours on the premises of his residence at Vazhappally near here.
Though Panicker’s policy was that of maintaining equal distance from all political parties to establish the community as a strong pressure group, the funeral was an emotinally-charged event, with people of all walks of life pouring in to pay homage to the veteran leader.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister A K Antony sent condolence messages to the bereaved family. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy came to the headquarters by 3 pm, and was present with Finance Minister K M Mani during the cremation.
Leader of Opposition V S Achuthanandan arrived by 1 pm accompanied by CPM Kottayam district secretary K J Thomas and Kerala Congress leader V Surendran Pillai.KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala,Congress leader Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, Rajmohan Unnithan, Jose
K Mani MP and C F Thomas were present at the headquarters during the entire day.
Union minister K C Venugopal, state ministers P K Kunhalikutty, V K Ibrahim Kunju, Shibu Baby John, Aryadan Muhammed, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, C N Balakrishnan, P J Joseph, V S Sivakumar, K C Joseph, Speaker J Karthikeyan, Deputy Speaker N Sakthan, Kodikunnil Suresh MP, Congress leaders K Muraleedharan, Thalekkunnil Basheer, LDF convenor Vaikom Viswan, CPM leaders V N Vasavan, P Jayarajan, K Suresh Kurup, S Sharma, CPI leaders Mullakkara Ratnakaran, C Divakaran, RSP leader V P Ramakrishna Pillai, BJP state president V Muraleedharan Pillai and O Rajagopal also came to Perunna to pay homage to the late leader.