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Hundreds bid adieu to Surjeet

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Top political leaders, Ministers among those who attended the funeral

— Photo: R.V. Moorthy

Final journey: Sitaram Yechury, Prakash Karat and other CPI(M) leaders carrying the body of Harkishan Singh Surjeet at AKG Bhavan in New Delhi on Sunday.

NEW DELHI: Amid slogans such as “Long Live Comrade Surjeet” and “Lal Salaam,” the mortal remains of veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet were consigned to the flames at Nigambodh Ghat here on Sunday.

Following a gun salute by Delhi police personnel, who fired three rounds in the air, the pyre was lit by his eldest son, Paramjeet Singh, at 5.20 p.m. The funeral was also attended by Mr. Surjeet’s wife, Pritam Kaur, his two sons and daughter.

A number of senior politicians, including Congress president Sonia Gandhi and CPI(M) leaders Prakash Karat, Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat were present at the solemn ceremony.

Others present included Union Ministers Shivraj Patil, Saifuddin Soz and S. Jaipal Reddy, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, the former Prime Ministers, I.K. Gujral and H.D. Deve Gowda, CPI leaders A.B. Bardhan and D. Raja, Congress leader Ahmed Patel, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and party general secretary Amar Singh.

For the cremation, CPI(M) workers and leaders turned up from all over the country. Be it the party strongholds of West Bengal and Kerala, or various north Indian States, including Punjab, from where Mr. Surjeet hailed, party workers descended from all over to pay their last respects to the veteran, who was a friend, philosopher and guide to many. Many held posters in their hands and had tears in their eyes as the sun downed on one of the finest politicians the country has seen.

Earlier, draped in a CPI(M) flag, the body of the 92-year-old leader who passed away in a Noida hospital on Friday following prolonged illness, was brought to the cremation ground from the party headquarters, where it had been kept in State for friends, family members, followers and well-wishers to pay their respects.

Here, Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Lok Jan Shakti Party chief Ramvilas Paswan, the former Prime Minister, I.K. Gujral, and H.D. Deve Gowda, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh and BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and V.K. Malhotra paid their homage to the leader.

As the funeral procession embarked on the final journey in the afternoon, 92 red volunteers, symbolising the number of years Mr. Surjeet lived, moved in front of the vehicle that carried the mortal remains. They were followed by Mr. Karat, Mr. Yechury and other party Polit Bureau and Central Committee members.

In the morning, a number of dignitaries and politicians, including Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Railways Minister Lalu Prasad, Union Minister T.R. Baalu, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, the former Foreign Minister, K. Natwar Singh, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh, PDP leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and the former Punjab Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, paid floral tributes to the leader at his 8 Teen Murti Lane residence.

Many of these leaders also expressed deep regret at the passing away of the veteran Marxist.

“His principles will always remain with us and we hope to continue working for the development of the country with those who believe in his thoughts,” said Mr. Patil.

Offering “Lal Salaam” to the CPI(M) leader, Mr. Prasad termed him a “real angel for the poor and the working class.” Mr. Antony remembered Surjeet as “a leader who could always be approached for guidance,” while Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav described the passing away of the leader, who was instrumental in the formation of the United Front governments and the UPA government, as “an end of an era.”

Sushanta Talukdar reports from Agartala:

CPI(M) workers took out a silent procession through the main thoroughfares here on Sunday afternoon to pay homage to Mr. Surjeet.

Senior state CPI(M) leaders Bijan Dhar, Gautom Das, Khagen Das led the mourners with volunteers holding red flags at half-mast and displaying Mr. Surjeet’s photograph on their chests.

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