<p>Sirsa: Former <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/haryana">Haryana</a> chief minister <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/om-prakash-chautala">Om Prakash Chautala</a> was cremated on Saturday with full state honours in Teja Khera village in his native Sirsa district.</p>.<p>Chautala, who was a five-time chief minister, died in Gurugram on Friday. He was 89.</p>.<p>Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal were among prominent personalities who reached Teja Khera to attend the last rites of the departed leader.</p>.<p>People gathered in large numbers for the last rites ceremony. Political leaders cutting across parties laid floral wreaths to pay their last respects to the departed leader.</p>.<p>Many Haryana ministers, state Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan, former Union minister Venod Sharma, SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia, BJP's Manpreet Badal and Manjinder Singh Sirsa and several other leaders also reached Teja Khera to pay their last respects.</p>.<p>Earlier, Chautala's mortal remains were Saturday kept at the family's Teja Khera farmhouse here for people to pay their last respects to the departed Indian National Lok Dal chief. His body was wrapped in the Indian Tricolour and decked with garlands.</p>.<p>An INLD spokesperson said Chautala was rushed to a hospital after his health worsened on Friday.</p>.<p>Om Prakash Chautala's younger son Abhay Singh Chautala, an INLD leader, elder son Ajay Singh Chautala, who heads the JJP party, and other family members, including former deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala, ex-CM Chautala's brother Ranjit Chautala, were present in Teja Khera for the cremation.</p>.<p>The funeral pyre was lit by Chautala's sons Ajay and Abhay in the presence of other family members amid chants of Vedic hymns by priests.</p>.<p>Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and Kumari Selja had reached the Chautala farmhouse in the morning to pay their last respects to the five-time chief minister.</p>.<p>The Haryana government declared a three-day state mourning for the ex-CM's death. It has also declared Saturday a public holiday in all its offices as a mark of respect.</p>.<p>Shortly after laying a wreath, Vice President Dhankhar said Chautala made it clear the country's development, peace and progress is linked to the development of farmers and villages.</p>.<p>Referring to the toppling of the Congress government in 1989, the vice president said Chautala was one of the architects of the "big change".</p>.<p>Dhankhar recalled his association with the ex-Haryana CM while he was a lawyer, later a governor and finally the vice president.</p>.<p>He added that despite facing several crisis, Chautala fought for farmers and rural development. His death leaves behind a great void, the vice president said.</p>.<p>Former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar on Saturday said Chautala's loss is irreparable not only for his immediate family but also for his innumerable well wishers and admirers, Kumar said.</p>.<p>"The people of Haryana will for long remember his political dynamism as a beloved grass roots leader,who stood steadfast in his beliefs even in the most difficult of times. His relentless fight for the cause of farmers defined his leadership.</p>.<p>"He was a valued friend to many as also a fierce opponent to contend with. No words can adequately express my personal sense of loss for I was touched by his affection and generosity in several ways and on several occasions," Kumar added. PTI SUN SKC SKY SKY</p>
<p>Sirsa: Former <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/haryana">Haryana</a> chief minister <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/om-prakash-chautala">Om Prakash Chautala</a> was cremated on Saturday with full state honours in Teja Khera village in his native Sirsa district.</p>.<p>Chautala, who was a five-time chief minister, died in Gurugram on Friday. He was 89.</p>.<p>Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal were among prominent personalities who reached Teja Khera to attend the last rites of the departed leader.</p>.<p>People gathered in large numbers for the last rites ceremony. Political leaders cutting across parties laid floral wreaths to pay their last respects to the departed leader.</p>.<p>Many Haryana ministers, state Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan, former Union minister Venod Sharma, SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia, BJP's Manpreet Badal and Manjinder Singh Sirsa and several other leaders also reached Teja Khera to pay their last respects.</p>.<p>Earlier, Chautala's mortal remains were Saturday kept at the family's Teja Khera farmhouse here for people to pay their last respects to the departed Indian National Lok Dal chief. His body was wrapped in the Indian Tricolour and decked with garlands.</p>.<p>An INLD spokesperson said Chautala was rushed to a hospital after his health worsened on Friday.</p>.<p>Om Prakash Chautala's younger son Abhay Singh Chautala, an INLD leader, elder son Ajay Singh Chautala, who heads the JJP party, and other family members, including former deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala, ex-CM Chautala's brother Ranjit Chautala, were present in Teja Khera for the cremation.</p>.<p>The funeral pyre was lit by Chautala's sons Ajay and Abhay in the presence of other family members amid chants of Vedic hymns by priests.</p>.<p>Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and Kumari Selja had reached the Chautala farmhouse in the morning to pay their last respects to the five-time chief minister.</p>.<p>The Haryana government declared a three-day state mourning for the ex-CM's death. It has also declared Saturday a public holiday in all its offices as a mark of respect.</p>.<p>Shortly after laying a wreath, Vice President Dhankhar said Chautala made it clear the country's development, peace and progress is linked to the development of farmers and villages.</p>.<p>Referring to the toppling of the Congress government in 1989, the vice president said Chautala was one of the architects of the "big change".</p>.<p>Dhankhar recalled his association with the ex-Haryana CM while he was a lawyer, later a governor and finally the vice president.</p>.<p>He added that despite facing several crisis, Chautala fought for farmers and rural development. His death leaves behind a great void, the vice president said.</p>.<p>Former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar on Saturday said Chautala's loss is irreparable not only for his immediate family but also for his innumerable well wishers and admirers, Kumar said.</p>.<p>"The people of Haryana will for long remember his political dynamism as a beloved grass roots leader,who stood steadfast in his beliefs even in the most difficult of times. His relentless fight for the cause of farmers defined his leadership.</p>.<p>"He was a valued friend to many as also a fierce opponent to contend with. No words can adequately express my personal sense of loss for I was touched by his affection and generosity in several ways and on several occasions," Kumar added. PTI SUN SKC SKY SKY</p>