TR. R. Patil cremated in his native village
Thousands of supporters of R. R. Patil, Maharashtra’s former Home Minister and senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), on Tuesday gave a tearful farewell as he was cremated with State honours in his native village Anjani in the State’s Sangli district.
Mr. Patil, 57, passed away on Monday after a prolonged battle with oral cancer.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, former CM Prithviraj Chavan and veteran social activist Anna Hazare were among the few dignitaries who were present on Tuesday as the late leader’s son lit the funeral pyre.
Mr. Patil’s body was kept at the NCP headquarters in South Mumbai on Monday night and was then taken to his native place by morning, where it was kept at his residence.
“He always fought for the common people and his struggle went on with his ailing health as well. He was such a leader who developed activists in almost every tehsil of the state,” said Mr. Pawar. While Mr. Pawar’s daughter and NCP MP Supriya Sule consoled Mr. Patil’s wife and daughter, his nephew and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar was one of the pall bearers to late leader’s body.
The State Government had announced one day of state mourning folliwng Mr. Patil’s death.
