Mortal remains of former minister consigned to flames

Hyderabad, Dec 29 (UNI) The mortal remains of senior Congress leader and former Minister P Janardhan Reddy, who died yesterday due to cardiac arrest, was consigned to flames with police honours at the Amberpet Burial grounds here today.

P J Reddy's son and National Students Union of India Treasurer Vishnu Vardhana Reddy lit the pyre in the presence of family members, supporters, party workers and sympathisers, who paid their last and teary respects to the labour leader.

State police opened three rounds of fire in air and reversed the guns as a mark of respect to the departed leader.

Earlier, the deceased leader's body was taken out of his residence in a big procession to Amberpet burial grounds with a brief halt at the Congress Headquarters 'Gandhi Bhavan', where tens of thousands of party workers and well wishers, including women, paid their last respects to their beloved leader.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, Union Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy, many State Ministers, MLAs, MPs and leaders of various political parties attended the funeral where the party workers and well-wishers raised slogans, praising the services rendered by the leader to the poor people.

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) expressed its grief over P J Reddy's sudden death. AICC General Secretary and In-charge Andhra Party Affairs Veerappa Moily reached the city this morning and visited his house and consoled the family members.

Popularly known as PJR, Khairatabad MLA Janardhana Reddy died of cardiac arrest while proceeding to attend a party function here yesterday.

UNI