JAMMU: Hundreds of people, including top political leaders, gathered on Friday to attend the cremation of senior BJP leader and MLA, Devender Singh Rana, at Shastri Nagar Crematorium in Jammu.
Rana, a National Conference-turned-BJP leader and sitting MLA from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), passed away late Thursday evening at a hospital in Faridabad, Haryana, after a prolonged illness.
On Friday afternoon, Rana’s mortal remains were brought to his home in Gandhi Nagar, Jammu. Thousands, including top party leaders and his brother, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, gathered there to pay tribute. From his residence, the remains were carried in a procession to the cremation ground in a vehicle adorned with flowers.
Media reports said that chants of “Devender Singh Rana Amar Rahay” filled the air as large when Rana’s body was consigned to flames. His son performed the last rites, lighting the funeral pyre in an atmosphere charged with emotion.
Among those who attended were JK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, JK BJP President Ravinder Raina, BJP MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, Cabinet Minister Satish Sharma, and senior civil and police officials.
Deputy Chief Minister Choudhary expressed grief over Rana’s untimely passing, saying, “JK has lost a big leader, the voice of Jammu. We have no words to express our condolences for this leader with whom I had a very close relationship.”
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also visited Rana’s residence to offer his condolences.
