AICC Gen Secy Surjewala pays last respects to Minister Sudhakar

AICC General Secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala paid his final respects to Minister D Sudhakar on Monday, describing him as an asset not only to the Congress Party but to the entire state. He was an asset not only to the Congress Party, not only to the district or his assembly constituency, but to the entire state, Surjewala said.

AICC General Secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala paid his final respects to Minister D Sudhakar on Monday, describing him as an ''asset'' not only to the Congress Party but to the entire state. The Planning and Statistics Minister died early Sunday at the Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences in Bengaluru. He had been undergoing treatment for a lung infection for the past two months. ''We are all here today to offer our condolences to the family of our friend, our colleague, our cabinet minister, a dedicated congressman, ever smiling personality, Mr. Sudhakar. He was an asset not only to the Congress Party, not only to the district or his assembly constituency, but to the entire state,'' Surjewala said. Later, speaking to reporters, he said, ''His mild mannerisms, his ever-smiling nature, his connect to the grassroots, his dedication to the ideology of the Congress Party, and his commitment to the cause of the poor, downtrodden, and the common people endeared Sudhakar to all and sundry to the common people. No wonder they elected him again and again.'' Noting that Sudhakar proved that community, caste, and religion are immaterial if you serve the people properly, Surjewala said, ''He (Sudhakar) was an embodiment thereof. He broke across the barriers of caste or religion to get elected. He will always live in our memories. And we shall all pray for him and give strength to the family.'' Sudhakar was a senior Congress leader and the MLA from Hiriyur in Chitradurga district. Official sources said his last rites will be performed later today at Chellakere, following Jain traditions. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, a host of state government ministers, and Congress leaders are expected to take part in the event. The state government has declared a holiday for schools, colleges and government offices in Chitradurga district on Monday. State mourning has been announced across the state for three days starting Sunday, as a mark of respect to the departed.