Mortal remains of veteran freedom fighter consigned to flames

Allahabad, Oct 1 (UNI) The mortal remains of veteran freedom fighter, journalist and writer P D Tandon were consigned to flames with full state honour on the banks of river Ganga here.

The pyre was lit by his only son Rakesh.

Mr Tandon had passed away last evening at a private city nursing home following heart attack.

His body was taken in a flower-decked open truck from his residence to crematorium.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of Congress president Sonia Gandhi by All India Women Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi, while Samajwadi Party Lok Sabha MP Reoti Raman Singh laid a wreath on behalf of state Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Others present on the occasion included senior Congress leader Pramod Tiwari, social workers, journalists and teachers.

Tandon closely associated with former Prime Ministers Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru and Mrs Indira Gandhi. He had actively participated in the freedom struggle and was jailed several times.

Mr Tandon served as state Information Minister, besides writing several books in Hindi and English.

UNI JL VS VD RK1506