Last journey of Basu begins

Kolkata, Jan 19: The last journey of the veteran Marxist leader, Jyoti Basu began at 7.30 am, amidst shouts of Lal Salaam (red salute), as the mortal remains of Basu wrapped in a red flag was taken out of the Peace Haven.

Party workers and supporters shouted 'Comrade Jyoti Basu lal salaam (red salute)' slogans in praise of Basu, as they thronged in to bid farewell to the former chief minister.

The body of Basu was carried by the grief-stricken CPI-M politburo members,including general secretary Prakash Karat and chief ministers of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, from the hearse and placed it on a makeshift platform.

The body was first take to the party headquarters at Alimuddin street, where party leaders paid homage to the CPI(M) leader.

Basu's mortal remains is now on its way to Writers' Buildings, where chief minister Buddhdeb Bhattacharjee, along with other leaders will pay their respect.

The body of the veteran leader which will later be taken to the state Assembly will be kept there till 3 pm.

The army would reportedly take control of the body for the final part of the journey to SSKm hospital.

Before being donated to the government hospital, Basu will also receive Guard of Honor and a 21-gun salute.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, LK Advani, Pranab Mukherjee and Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina are among the many leaders who have come in to pay respect to the communist patriach.

NCP leader PA Sangma, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav are also expected to take part in Basu's the last journey

OneIndia News