The Hindu : National : Mother's cremation awaits Kanshi Ram's arrival

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 23, 2005

National

National

Mother's cremation awaits Kanshi Ram's arrival

Ropar: The cremation of Bishen Kaur (96), mother of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder Kanshi Ram, could not take place on Thursday as her family declared that her pyre would only be lit by her eldest son.

She would be cremated only after Mr. Kanshi Ram arrives at Boonga Sahib village to light the pyre, the family members said at Khwaspura.

Mr. Kanshi Ram is bed-ridden in New Delhi.

Residents of Khwaspura village blocked traffic on the Ropar-Anandpur Sahib highway in protest against BSP chief Mayawati's alleged refusal to "release" Mr. Kanshi Ram from her "custody."

A number of leaders from various political parties, excluding BSP leaders, made a beeline to Boonga Sahib, 24 km from here, to pay their last respects. The body was brought to the village on Wednesday after she passed away at the PGI in Chandigarh.

Bishen Kaur's only daughter, Swaran Kaur, said: "It was my mother's last wish that her pyre be lit by Kanshi Ram. She made this wish after she was humiliated and not allowed to meet her son at Mayawati's residence on December 1. Since then my mother's health had been deteriorating.''

Ms. Swaran Kaur claimed that she talked to Ms. Mayawati's personal assistant on Thursday morning to request that Mr. Kanshi Ram be sent to fulfil the last wish of his mother. — UNI

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