The mortal remains of senior BJP leader and union minister Gopinath Munde, who was killed in a road accident in New Delhi Tuesday, were consigned to the flames in Parali-Vaijnath, his birthplace in Beed district, Wednesday afternoon.
His teary-eyed eldest daughter and legislator Pankaja Munde-Palve performed the last rites and lit the funeral pyre as Munde had only three daughters and no son.
Pankaja's action was symbolic and was expected to send positive signals in the Marathwada region which has been regularly in the news for incidents of female foeticide.
A sea of humanity that included many union and state ministers, political leaders from all political parties, BJP activists and locals witnessed the state funeral ceremony accorded to Munde.
The people raised slogans of 'Gopinath Munde Amar Rahe', 'Gopinath Munde Come Back' and 'Gopinath Munde Zindabad' as the funeral ceremonies got underway.
The Maharashtra government has declared a three-day period of state mourning in honour of the departed leader.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
)