Chants of "Netaji Amar Rahe" reverberated across Saifai...
Ahead of the prolonged illness, veteran politician, Samajwadi Supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav took his last breath at 82 on Monday morning at a private hospital in Gurugram and his body reached Saifai in the evening. Chants of "Netaji Amar Rahe" reverberated across Saifai as people from across the length and breadth of Uttar Pradesh thronged socialist leader Mulayam Singh Yadav's native village for his last darshan Monday.
The body of the Samajwadi Party patriarch has been kept at his 'Kothi' and the cremation will take place on Tuesday afternoon.
While grief-struck commoners and party supporters stood in queues, it wasn't easier for "VIPs" as well with multiple current and former UP legislative assembly members trying hard to gain entry into the Kothi.
A private security official told an MLC and a former MLC, denying them a backdoor entry, "Sir, there are instructions to us that no VIP treatment is meted out to anyone."
Besides a large number of people who waited for the body at the venue, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, former MP Dharmendra Yadav, and other family members were present when the body was taken out from an ambulance.
Mulayam Singh Yadav's brother Shivpal Yadav was seen comforting Akhilesh Yadav, placing his hand on his shoulder as the latter broke down.
Soon after the body was laid for the last "darshans", Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh and BJP state president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary arrived and paid their tributes. They also extended their condolences to Akhilesh Yadav.
On the demise of Neta Ji, an official statement issued in Lucknow, Mr Adityanath reached Saifai and paid tributes to former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. He also paid floral tributes on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and the Uttar Pradesh government, it said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Bihar Chief Minister Nitesh Kumar will likely arrive here.
Traders in the district have decided to keep the markets closed on October 11 as a mark of respect to the leader.
According to a senior official, given a large number of people including VVIPs, and VIPs expected to arrive for the darshan of the late leader, tight security arrangements have been made. Many locals, party workers, leaders and women are continuously reaching Saifai village to extend their condolences and pay tribute to the departed soul.
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