JAIPUR: State social justice minister Master Bhanwarlal Meghwal was cremated with full state honours at his hometown Sujangarh in Churu district on Tuesday afternoon. His son Manoj lit the pyre amid the chanting of Vedic mantras.
Meghwal (72) passed away at a hospital in Haryana’s Gurugram on Monday evening after suffering a brain haemorrhage in May.
State Congress chief and education minister Govind Dotasra, transport minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, power minister B D Kalla, labour minister Tikaram Jully and several MLAs paid floral tributes to Meghwal.
Earlier in the day, the state council of ministers chaired by chief minister Ashok Gehlot expressed grief over the minister’s demise and observed a two-minute silence in memory of the departed soul. The meeting acknowledged the contribution of Meghwal to the state and stood. Governor Kalraj Mishra spoke to the minister’s son over phone and consoled him. Mishra said Meghwal was a popular leader and worked for the uplift of the marginalised sections of society.
The state observed a one-day mourning and declared a holiday on Tuesday in respect of the departed soul.
Meghwal represented the Sujangarh assembly constituency in Churu district and was a five-time MLA. He was a prominent dalit face of the Congress in the state.