Chennai, Nov 24: The mortal remains of Union Minister and DMK ideologue, 'Murasoli' Maran, were consigned to flames today in an electric crematorium at Besant Nagar in south Chennai, with full state honours. A gun salute was accorded to the late leader before the body of the 69-year-old central minister was laid in the furnace of the crematorium at about 6.45.Pm.
Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, former prime minister I K Gujral, Defence Minister George Fernandes, several Central ministers, Tamil Nadu Governor P S Ramamohan Rao, TDP leader, Yerran Naidu and leaders of various political parties and film personalities attended the funeral.
Vajpayee, Gujaral and Fernandes paid their last respects by placing wreaths on the body before it was taken for the last rites.
Earlier, the body, draped in national Tri-colour, was placed in a flower-decked military van that wound its way to the crematorium. People lined the roads through which his funeral procession was taken to have a last glimpse of the departed leader.
A grief-stricken former state Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi, who is also Maran's maternal uncle, and other VIPs accompanied the funeral procession. Family members of Maran including his wife travelled in the van upto the crematorium where she broke down and was consoled by family members.
Bureau Report