Harikrishna cremated with state honours

The last rites of Telugu Desam Party's politburo member Nandamuri Harikrishna were performed here on Thursday evening with state honours. His son Kalyan Ram lit the pyre as hundreds of his fans and TDP workers grieved.

Harikrishna's brother-in-law, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, and former Supreme Court judge justice Jasti Chelameswar stood as pallbearers in the last journey by former chief minister N T Rama Rao's fourth son, from his residence in Mehdipatnam to Mahaprasthanam, here on Thursday.

A huge crowd was part of the funeral procession.

The procession started from Harikrishna’s residence and passed through NMDC, SD Hospital, Reti Bowli, Nanal Nagar, Toli Chowki, Shaikpet Nala, Whisper valley and Mahaprasthanam cremation grounds.

The Telangana government has granted 450 square yards of land to construct a memorial to the departed leader next to the cremation grounds.

Earlier, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu offered condolences to the bereaved family at Mehdipatnam and remembered Harikrishna as a fearless and straightforward leader who always spoke his mind.

"He demanded that he must be allowed to speak in Telugu as a member of Rajya Sabha and resigned protesting the bifurcation of the state," the vice president said.

The Telangana government has granted 450 square yards of land to construct a memorial to the departed leader next to the cremation grounds.

Earlier Vice President Venkaiah Naidu offered condolences to the bereaved family at Mehdipatnam and remembered Harikrishna as a fearless and straightforward leader who always spoke his mind. "He demanded that he must be allowed to speak in Telugu as a member of Rajya Sabha and resigned protesting the bifurcation of the state," the vice president said.

The 61-year-old TDP leader died on Wednesday following a road accident in Nalgonda district while he was on his way to Nellore to attend a wedding.

Meanwhile, a pall of gloom descended on Harikrishna's native village Nimmakuru in Krishna district. Several actors such as Nagarjuna, Jagapathi Babu, producer Dil Raju, director Raghavendra Rao offered condolences.