Sukh Ram cremated with full state honours in Mandi
Former Union telecommunication minister and veteran Congress leader Pt Sukh Ram was cremated with full state honours at Hanumanghat in Mandi on Thursday.
He breathed his last at the AIIMS in New Delhi on Wednesday, where he was admitted after suffering a brain stroke.
His mortal remains were kept at Seri Manch where Himachal chief minister Jai Ram Thakur led the people of the state in paying rich tributes to Sukh Ram, fondly called Pandit ji.
Thousands of his followers and Mandi locals made a beeline for Seri Manch to pay last tributes to the veteran leader. His grandson Aayush Sharma, brother-in-law of Bollywood actor Salman Khan, along with his wife Arpita Sharma and kids flew from Mumbai to be with the family at this hour of the grief.
CM Thakur said the veteran leader would always be remembered for bringing telecom revolution in the country.
He said with the death of Sukh Ram, the country in general and Himachal Pradesh in particular has lost a great leader, who was always ready of innovative ideas.
“He contributed immensely for the development of Himachal Pradesh and welfare of its people during his vast political career spanning over six decades,” he added.
Former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal also reached Mandi to pay tributes to Sukh Ram, with whose party the Himachal Vikas Congress, he had run a coalition government from 1998-2003.
Besides, cabinet ministers of Jai Ram Thakur government and leaders from both the ruling as well as opposition parties laid the wreath.
Later, the late leader’s mortal remains were taken to Hanumanghat on the banks of Beas river.
His son and Mandi MLA Anil Sharma lit the pyre.