Will take long to come out of shock: Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Expressing his gratitude to the people and leaders who stood by him in his hour of grief, Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah on Tuesday issued an emotional statement and said, "I pray that no parent should reach a stage of losing their grown-up children."

Mr Siddaramaiah who had reached the city on Monday evening, is taking rest at his residence. In the evening, he issued the statement through his press secretary.

The CM thanked thousands of people who prayed for his son's recovery when late Rakesh was undergoing treatment in a Belgium hospital. "Rising above caste and community sentiments, people prayed for his recovery in temples, churches and mosques. I thank them. I also thank governor, Vajubhai Vala, AICC general secretary, Digvijay Singh, party leader in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, former Kerala CM, Oommen Chandy, former chief ministers, B.S. Yeddyurappa, H.D. Kumaraswamy Jagadish Shettar and D.V. Sadananda Gowda and S.M. Krishna who came to pay tributes."

He further said, "When we were in Brussels, Mr Vijayendra and his wife, who are originally from Bengaluru, gave homely food to us. We would never forget their love and affection extended to us in this hour of crisis. It may take a long time for me to come out of this shock. Personally, I am trying hard to come to terms with my son Rakesh's death."

Later Mr Siddaramaiah called up Janata Dal (S) supremo, H.D. Deve Gowda and thanked him for sending him a letter expressing his condolences.
Mr Gowda, who was down with fever, could not attend the funeral of Rakesh.