Nizamabad: People and leaders cutting across political lines bid a tearful farewell to former AP Congress president D. Srinivas, who died due to a heart attack. His last rites were conducted with state honours at his farmhouse at the bypass road in Nizamabad.
The body of the departed leader was brought to his residence on Saturday night and kept in state for the people to pay tribute. A large number of people from across the region took part in the funeral.
AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed grief over the death of Srinivas and recalled his services to the Congress and expressed condolences to the bereaved family members. Former AICC president Sonia Gandhi, and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi expressed grief over the death of Srinivas and conveyed their condolences.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy visited the departed leader’s residence and paid tributes along with Congress, BJP, BRS and other leaders. Nizamabad district collector Rajiv Gandhi Hanumanthu, police commissioner Kalmeshwar Shinganevar, DIG Sudheer Babu, municipal commissioner Makarand, additional collector Kiran Kumar and other officials took part in the state funeral.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said that Srinivas had played a vital role in the formation of Telangana state. In the 2004 general elections, Srinivas succeeded in convincing then Congress president Sonia Gandhi of the need for the formation of Telangana state.
Speaking to reporters, Revanth Reddy said Srinivas is known as a staunch follower of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. He played a key role in bringing the Congress into power in 2004 and 2009 Assembly elections. His thought and coordination helped the party to flourish in the state.
Revanth Reddy said the state government will take up steps to perpetuate his memory after consulting Srinivas’ family members. The Chief Minister flew to Nizamabad by a helicopter on Sunday and visited the residence of Srinivas at Pragathinagar paid his last tributes to the departed leader.
