Vajpayee ashes immersed in sea; BJP alleges egg hurling at urn

The ashes of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was today immersed in the Bay of Bengal here amidst slogans of "Atalji Amar Rahe".

BJP leaders alleged that an egg was hurled at the vehicle carrying the urn containing the ashes, but the authorities denied it.

The ashes were immersed in the sea after a puja was held in presence of BJP state president Basant Panda, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and senior leaders of the party.

Earlier, the urn was taken in a procession from BJP state headquarters in Bhubaneswar to Puri. People comprising school children were seen standing on both side of the roads.

The 'asthi kalash' was brought to Odisha by Panda yesterday evening. The ashes will also be immersed in the major rivers including Mahanadi, Baitarani, Brahmani and Rushikulya later.

BJP leader Bhrugu Buxipatra and party's women wing chief Pravati Parida alleged that a member of the Biju Juva Bahini hurled an egg at the vehicle carrying Vajpayee's ashes near Chandanpur in Puri district.

Biju Juva Bahini members are volunteers of the state's sports and youth affairs department.

Parida alleged that the youth who hurled the egg is the son of a local BJD leader at Chandanpur.

Puri SP Sarthak Sarangi, however, denied the allegation and said: "No such incident has taken place anywhere in Puri district."