Mysuru: H S Mahadeva Prasad, Cooperation and Sugar Minister who died of heart attack in Chikkmangaluru was laid to rest with full state honours at his native village at Halahalli in his Bogapura Thengu Nursery Farm, Gundulpet Taluk in Chamarajanagar district on Wednesday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah placed a wreath on Mahadeva Prasad’s body at Halahalli Gram Panchayat ground where his body was kept for few hours for public viewing.
The mortal remains were taken from his Kuvempunagar residence in Mysuru to Gundlupet on Tuesday night and later to his native village Halahalli. On Wednesday, the body was kept at Halahalli Gram Panchayat ground for public viewing from 6 am to 1.20 pm. A large number of people including his supporters and well-wishers from across the state thronged Halahalli to pay their last respects right from the morning. Many were emotional while getting the last glimpse of their leader who was instrumental in giving a new shape to their village, taluk and ensuring overall development of Chamarajanagar district. Though the crowd was less to start with, after 9am, people started to pour in large numbers. Prasad’s wife Gita Mahadeva Prasad, younger brother Nanjunda Prasad and son Ganesh Prasad, accompanied the mortal remains. The police had a tough time controlling the surging crowd. As a mark of respect to their leader, all the shops in Gundulpet Taluk were voluntarily closed.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and a large number of his cabinet colleagues including G Parameshwara, K J George, U T Khader, Ramesh Kumar, Pramod Madhwaraj, Ramanath Rai, Santosh Lad, Tanveer Sait, Roshan Baig, H C Mahadevappa, D K Shivakumar, Umashree, former chief minister Yeddyurappa, former ministers Satish Jharkiholi, Ibrahim, Shobha Karandlaje, C T Ravi, H D Revanna, MPs Dhruvanarayan and Pratap Simha arrived at the village and paid their last respects. Chief Secretary Subhash Chandra Khuntia too was present.
The body was laid to rest next to the graves of his father and mother. Last rites were performed by his son Ganesh Prasad according to Veerashaiva tradition. The government had declared holiday for Chamarajanagar district on Wednesday.
