Pulivvendula (Andhra Pradesh), September 04: The late Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was Friday buried at his homestead here, laid to eternal rest against the green hills in the place he loved the most with his family, friends and thousands of supporters watching tearfully.
The body was brought to the 100 acre Idupulapaya Estate, 40 km from this town in Kadapa district, earlier in the day with thousands surging forward in grief.
As his coffin was lowered into the grave, it marked the end of the Lion of Kadapa who had gone from here to become one of India’s most powerful politicians after steering the Congress to a second win in the assembly elections this year.
YSR’s wife Vijayalakshmi, son Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, daughter Sharmila and others broke down when his body was lowered in the presence of Christian religious leaders.
Jaganmohan, MP from Kadapa, who had been trying to put up a brave front ever since Wednesday when his father’s helicopter went missing, was inconsolable. Tears rolled down unchecked as Jagan, as he is known, hugged his mother. Sharmila, her husband Anil Kumar and their children also sobbed uncontrollably.
Some state ministers broke down too while consoling the family. Union Minister for health Gulam Nabi Azad, a long-time friend of YSR’s, attended the burial as a representative of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
He had climbed on to the military truck carrying the late leader’s mortal remains to meet the family and to be with them.
YSR, as he was known, was killed with four others when his helicopter crashed in the Nallamala forests in Kurnool district. His charred body was found Thursday morning, more than 24 hours after his helicopter went missing.
–Agencies