The former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief, K.S. Sudarshan, who died in Raipur following heart attack on Saturday, was cremated at the Gangabai Ghat Smashan Bhoomi here on Sunday with around 5,000 people, mostly RSS Swayamsevaks, attending the funeral.
Almost all the top leaders from the Sangh parivar were present to pay homage to the former “Sarsanghachalak.”
RSS chief Mohan Bhagavat, its general secretary Bhayyaji Joshi, spokesperson Ram Madhav, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Nitin Gadkari, senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, the former BJP president, Rajnath Singh, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and many others paid their last respects to Sudarshan.
Mr. Modi described Sudarshan as a hard worker and an enriched thinker. “His death is unfortunate for all of us. He studied a variety of subjects from science to international relations. He was an ideal Swayamsevak and a rational thinker. He never took decisions emotionally. I was lucky to have worked with him for so many years,” said Mr. Modi.
Mr. Advani said: “Sudarshan’s death is a big loss not only for the RSS but also for the entire nation. I have seen him closely and by all angles he was a saint.”
Mr. Chouhan said Mr. Sudarshan was an expert organiser. “I can’t believe that he is no more with us. Swadeshi and Hindi were very close to his heart. He gave his entire life for the country.
Sudarshan’s younger brother K.S. Ramesh lit the funeral pyre amidst chants of “Sree Ram, Sree Ram, Jai Shree Ram.”
Senior RSS ideologue M.G. Vaidya, RSS leader Indresh Kumar, Vishva Hindu Parishad chief Ashok Singhal, BJP leader Gopinath Munde, Balbir Punj and Sanjay Joshi attended the funeral.
Mr. Modi directly came to the Hedgewar Bhavan where Sudarshan’s body was kept. Half an hour before the arrival of Mr. Modi, Mr. Joshi left the venue and returned only after Mr. Modi left the Hedgewar Bhavan.
