Rajkumar to be cremated with State honours tomorrow

Bangalore, Apr 12 (UNI) Announcing a two-day State mourning as a mark of respect to Kannada screen idol Rajkumar, who died here today, the Karnataka Government said the last rites will be performed with State honours tomorrow.

The venue and time of the last rites would be decided in consultation with the actor's family later tonight, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said in a post-Cabinet briefing.

He said the body would be kept at the Kanteerava stadium here for public homage from tonight. It was initially decided to keep the body for public homage at the Palace grounds. But the venue was shifted due to lack of adequate facilities at the palace grounds.

Terming the demise as an irreparable loss not only to the family but also to the entire State, Mr Kumaraswamy said the Cabinet decided to announce a two-day holiday from today for all Government offices, Boards and educational institutions. National flags would be flown at half mast in all Government buildings. A black bordered gazette would be released, expressing the State's grief.

Appealing to the fans not to damage public property, he asked them to honour the name of Rajkumar and act according to the message he had given through his various films. ''This is not the manner in which people respect Rajkumar. By such acts, you will only be showing disrespect to him.'' Plying of buses was stopped in some places in view of violence.

The services would be restored once the situation normalised, he said.

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