Sat Dec 21 10:23:26 UTC 2024: ## Five-Time Haryana Chief Minister OP Chautala Laid to Rest
Sirsa, Haryana – The last rites for five-time Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala were performed today with full state honors at his farmhouse in Teja Kheda village. Thousands of mourners gathered to pay their final respects to the 89-year-old leader, who passed away on Friday after suffering a heart attack in Gurugram.
Chautala’s body, draped in the Indian flag and adorned with a green turban and glasses, was kept for public viewing until 2 PM before the cremation ceremony. The ceremony included the use of sandalwood, a traditional practice.
Prominent political figures attended the funeral, including Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini. Despite their political differences, both of Chautala’s sons, Ajay and Abhay, and his brother Ranjit Chautala, were present to bid their final farewell.
Abhay Chautala, in a social media post, described his father’s death as a personal loss not only for his family but for all those whose lives he touched. Former Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala called OP Chautala a “man of iron.”
Chautala’s career was marked by both significant political achievements and controversy. He served multiple terms as Chief Minister and was convicted in the teachers’ recruitment scam, serving time in prison alongside his son Ajay. He was later released under a central government pardon scheme. Interestingly, he completed his schooling while incarcerated, a story that even inspired a Bollywood film, “Dasvi.”
Following Chautala’s death, condolences poured in from across the political spectrum, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and other prominent leaders, acknowledging his considerable contribution to Haryana’s political landscape. The Haryana government declared three days of state mourning in his honor.
First Piper 