Vajpayee’s ashes to be immersed in Puri today

| | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

The ashes of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee reached the Biju Patnaik International Airport here on Wednesday for immersion in major rivers across the State.

BJP State president Basant Panda arrived here with the ashes-containing urn in the evening after receiving it from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah during a programme in New Delhi on the day.

The urn, which was brought to the BJP State office in a procession from the airport in the evening, was kept there for darshan of people before the ashes will be immersed in the sea in Puri on Thursday. Later, the ashes will be immersed in the major rivers including Mahanadi, Baitarani, Brahmani and Rushikulya in phases.

The ashes will be taken to Puri in a procession from Bhubaneswar. A large number of people are likely to join immersion ceremony on sea beach. Following immersion of the ashes, an all-party meeting would be organised on August 24 at Exhibition Ground here in memory of great leader, informed party State spokesperson Golak Mohapatra. Reports said BJP State unit has invited CM Naveen Patnaik, Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik and leaders of all other parties to the all-party meeting.