The mortal remains of K.S. Puttannaiah, Melkote MLA and senior Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) leader, who passed away on February 18, was laid to rest with full state honours at his native village Kyathanahalli, near Pandavapura, on Thursday afternoon.
Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Health Minister K.R. Ramesh Kumar, Food and Civil Supplies Minister U.T. Khader, Swaraj India National president Yogendra Yadav, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait and former MP G. Madegowda were among the hundreds of leaders who attended the funeral.
Farmers from different parts of the State, from neighbouring Tamil Nadu and also from Punjab took part in the funeral. A guard of honour was given by the district police.
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The body of Mr. Puttannaiah, who played a pivotal role in strengthening the farmers’ movement in Karnataka, was brought to Kyathanahalli from the JSS Medical College in Mysuru, where it was preserved since February 19, amidst police security in a procession.
Hundreds of farmers and students, government officials, social activists and members of various associations followed the procession in their vehicles.
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While the body was being brought in a procession, the public who were waiting along the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway paid their last respects to the leader by offering flowers and waving green shawls, which is the symbol of KRRS.
The body was kept for public viewing at Pandavapura, where thousands of people paid their last respects.
No rituals
The funeral was conducted without any religious rituals, even though a few seers attended, as Mr. Puttannaiah was against such beliefs. However, a puja was performed by the family members before the burial.
Burial
According to the KRRS leaders, initially it was decided to cremate the mortal remains according to the customs of his community. However, in the morning, a burial was decided upon.
“Mr. Puttannaiah was opposing wasting firewood for cremation and hence the body was buried instead of cremating,” said Shambhunahalli Suresh, a close aide of Mr. Puttannaiah.
According to the police and revenue officials, over 50,000 farmers from nearby villages attended the funeral. They started to flow to the venue from 9 a.m. onwards. Around noon, there were about 30,000 people. At around 12.45 p.m., when the mortal remains of Mr. Puttannaiah was buried next to the samadhis of his father Srikantegowda and mother Sharadamma, there were nearly 50,000 people.