People's Democracy

THE mortal remains of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau Member, Comrade Moturu Hanumantha Rao, were consigned to flames in the electric crematorium at Swargapuri in Vijayawada this evening amidst resounding slogans of "Lal Salam to Comrade MH " by multitude of people who attended his funeral. Thousands of his admirers, party workers and other people came from across the state to have a last glimpse of their leader.

CPI(M) leaders Sitaram Yechuri, V.S.Achutanandan, S.Ramachandran Pillai, M.A.Baby, Anil Biswas, L B Gangadhara Rao, Nanduri Prasada Rao, B.V.Raghavulu, Koratala Satyanarayana, P.Madhu, Paturi Ramaiah, Y.Radhakrishna Murthy, V.Krishnaiah, V.Srinivasa Rao and other leaders along with thousands of people were part of the last journey of Comrade MH.

Earlier people streamed into the Marxist Kaaryaalayam and paid homage to their departed leader with a heavy heart. At 3 p.m. the procession carrying the body of Com. M H started from here. The body was kept on a vehicle decorated with red flags and flowers. The procession waded through the main thoroughfares of Vijayawada. The entire stretch of two kilometres was choked with people. Many residents stood on their house tops and showered flowers on the body.

Dr.Tanya and Dr.Usha, daughters of Hanumantha Rao and other members of his family, the CPI(M) state secretary B.V.Raghavulu, city leader Ch.BabuRao were standing in the front part of the vehicle. In another vehicle along with top leaders of the CPI(M), Telugu Desam Party leader and former member of RajyaSabha, Dr.Yalamanchili Sivaji was also present.

In the forefront of the procession women workers of the party moved, followed by Redshirt volunteers, with thousands of people moving forward in queues on both sides of the road. Throughout the route of the procession leaders and workers of various mass organisations and those belonging to workers union of Prajasakti daily, which Comrade M H edited since its inception till recently, raised resounding slogans pledging to achieve the aim for which Comrade M H sacrificed his everything. Throughout the route of the procession traffic came to a standstill.

CONDOLENCE MEETING

Immediately after the cremation, a condolence meeting in memory of Comrade M H was held on the banks of river Krishna, at the cremation site.

Speakers emphasised that carrying forward the left, democratic movement alone will be a fitting tribute to Comrade M H. They lauded Comrade M H. for his ideological conviction, simple living and sacrifices made. He remained a true communist till his end, they said. They recalled his ability to retain ideological clarity in the face of intense efforts to create confusion. Intensifying class struggle is one way of paying tribute to Comrade M H they felt. CPI(M) politbureau members V S Achutanandan, S Ramchandran Pillai, Sitaram Yechuri, Anil Biswas, Karnataka state secretariat member Nagaraju, Tamil Nadu secretariat member T.K. Rangarajan, CPI central secretariat member Dasari Naghabhushan Rao, TDP leader and state agriculture minister V.Shobhanadreeswara Rao , MCPI leader Omkar, CPI(ML) Liberation leader Bangarraju and others spoke.

The meeting was presided over by CPI(M) state secretary B V Raghavulu.