Former Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal's Cremation Held in Jaipur

The political sphere and citizens of Rajasthan are currently enveloped in a wave of mourning following the demise of Kamla Beniwal, a stalwart of the Congress party and former Governor of Gujarat. Beniwal, who passed away at the age of 97 in a private hospital on Wednesday, was laid to rest at Lalkothi cremation ground. The funeral, held on Thursday, saw a gathering of notable figures including Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani, former minister B D Kalla, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Govind Singh Dotasra, alongside her family members and relatives.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma paid his respects by visiting Beniwal's residence in Malviya Nagar to offer floral tributes. Amidst the solemn proceedings, a controversy has surfaced regarding the state honours for Beniwal's funeral rites. PCC Chief Dotasra raised concerns over the absence of state honours for Beniwal's cremation, a gesture traditionally accorded to eminent personalities. He highlighted past instances where state honours were bestowed, citing the funerals of former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in 2010 and former Gujarat Governor Pandit Naval Kishore Sharma in 2012.

The question posed by Dotasra on social media platform X has ignited discussions among the populace. He questioned if Beniwal's ideological differences with Narendra Modi during her tenure as the Governor of Gujarat were the reason behind the perceived slight. Beniwal's political journey was marked by her significant contributions to Rajasthan and beyond. She served as the Governor of Tripura and Mizoram and was a seven-time Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). Her roles included that of Deputy Chief Minister among other key positions within the state government and the Congress party.

The debate surrounding the state honours for Beniwal's funeral underscores the complexities of political relationships and the respect accorded to leaders posthumously. As discussions continue, the legacy of Kamla Beniwal as a pioneering female politician and her contributions to Indian politics remain at the forefront.