Sorab bids tearful adieu to its beloved leader

SORAB(SHIMOGA) The mortal remains of former chief minister and socialist leader S Bangarappa was consigned to flames at 7.10 pm with full state honours at the grounds adjacent to Govt PU College here on Tuesday.Lakhs of followers, from as far as Gulbarga and Belgaum, and political leaders had gathered in large numbers. Police fired three rounds in the air as a mark of respect to the departed leader; Bangarappa’s son Madhu lit the pyre amid chanting of hymns.Earlier, the body of the former CM was taken out in a procession from Kubatur village via Tavanandi, Hale Sorab before reaching Sorab town. The body was kept at PU College grounds for public view. CM D V Sadananda Gowda, BJP state president K S Eshwarappa, former CM H D Kumaraswamy and Leader of Opposition in Assembly Siddaramaiah paid their last respects.Later, addressing the media, the CM said that the government plans to construct a memorial in memory of Bangarappa, at the place of his cremation. A decision in this regard will be taken soon, he said. Gowda, adding that Bangarappa was the greatest leader the state has ever produced after Devaraj Urs, said he championed for the minorities.