FROM DEFENCE Minister Rajnath Singh to senior Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge; from Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav to NCP chief Sharad Pawar; from Abhishek Bachchan to yoga guru Ramdev — and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
Senior political leaders chopping throughout occasion strains and states, and a clutch of celebrities, reached Saifai in UP’s Etawah district to pay their final respects to Samajwadi Celebration founder, three-time former UP Chief Minister and ex-Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav earlier than he was cremated with full state honours within the village on Tuesday afternoon.
The cremation was held at a floor about 400 metres from Mulayam’s home amid slogans of “Netaji Amar Rahein” from tons of of SP staff on the village the place their chief was born.
As Mulayam’s physique was positioned on the cremation floor for the final rites, Om Birla and Rajnath Singh have been amongst those that have been current to pay tribute and console the socialist chief’s relations, together with his son and SP president Akhilesh Yadav.
Aside from Kharge, the principle Opposition Congress, which had acquired SP backing at a vital juncture through the UPA authorities, was represented by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath.
Additionally current have been Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Republican Celebration of India president Ramdas Athawale and SP MP Jaya Bachchan, other than industrialist Anil Ambani.
From the ruling BJP, Union MoS S P Singh Baghel, who had misplaced the Meeting election early this 12 months to Akhilesh in Karhel, was in Saifai as additionally occasion MPs Varun Gandhi and Rita Bahuguna. The UP authorities was represented by Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, and ministers Suresh Khanna and Jitin Prasada.
Earlier, round 10 am, Mulayam’s physique was taken from his residence to a pandal on the Saifai Mela Floor for the “antim darshan” on a truck decked with flowers and garlands — accompanied by Akhilesh, Mulayam’s brother Shivpal Singh Yadav and different relations.
Lots of of mourners walked with the automobile at the same time as a number of others watched from rooftops, some even climbing on timber to witness the ultimate journey of their “Netaji”.
Aside from Akhilesh and Shivpal, Mulayam’s cousin Ramgopal Yadav and different relations supplied floral tributes after Etawah District Justice of the Peace Avanish Rai paid tribute on behalf of President Droupadi Murmu.
In keeping with an SP chief, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu had additionally reached the pandal.
In keeping with official estimates, a crowd of greater than 50,000 had initially gathered on the floor, with the depend swelling because the time for cremation neared. An SP chief mentioned the ultimate depend of mourners breached the 1-lakh mark.
At one level, a number of mourners tried to forcibly enter the stage, some even attempting to click on selfies, which prompted officers and Shivpal Yadav to make repeated appeals for peace and order. Later, the pyre was lit by Akhilesh.