Bansi Lal's body kept for last 'darshan' at Bhiwani

Bhiwani, Mar 29: Politicians cutting across party lines today (Mar 29, 2006) reached this district town to pay their last tributes to former Haryana chief minister Bansi Lal, who died at AIIMS hospital in Delhi late last night.

The body of the four-time chief minister of Haryana and the country's Defence minister during the emergency, was brought here from the AIIMS hospital by his son Ranbir Singh Mahendra, his daughters and his son-in-law, who declared that the departed leader's immortal remains would be consigned to the flames here this evening.

Mr Bansi Lal's daughter-in-law Kiran Chaudhary, who was elected an MLA after the demise of her husband and Bansi Lal's younger son Surendra Singh in an air crash last year, was reportedly on way back home from Australia, the family sources said.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and a number of other senior politicians from the Centre and the state are expected at the grand funeral at Bansi Lal's native village Golagarh, 30 km from here this evening.

The Haryana Government has announced a three-day state mourning from today onwards in the wake of the demise of the senior Congressman.

The state government has also declared a holiday today.

UNI