Jharsuguda: Former Odisha Chief Minister and Senior Congress leader Hemananda Biswal was cremated on Saturday evening at his village Thakurpada under Kirmira Block of Jharsuguda District with full state honours.
The mortal remains of the late leader reached Jharsuguda from Bhubaneswar in the evening on Saturday. After brief stopovers in various chowk of Jharsuguda, the mortal remains were brought to his native village Thakurpada in Kirmira Block.
He was given a Guard of Honour and was taken to cremation Ground for last rites
The funeral was attended by Congress Odisha In Charge A. Chella Kumar including senior Congress leader Kishore Chandra Patel, along with Odisha Health Minister Naba Kishore Das, Sundargarh MLA Smt. Kusum Tete, Rajgangpur MLA Dr C.S. Raazen Ekka , Jharsuguda Ex MLA Birendra Pandey, Jharsuguda Dist. Collector Saroj Kumar Samal and Superintendent of Police Bikash Ch. Das
“ He was the first tribal Chief Minister of Odisha, Congress party particularly Gandhi family has given so much importance to Hemananda Biswal Ji, it is a great loss to the people of Odisha he will be remembered forever, and a great loss for congress party also. But very unfortunate thing is that when a tribal leader died the Govt. of Odisha has failed to give him the right honour for his service. It is an insult to the people of Odisha. It is not the way to treat a former Chief Minister.” said A Chella Kumar, Odisha In Charge – All India Congress Committee.
“ Hemananda Biswal was and legendary politician, It is a sad day for the whole of Odisha, It seems that our guardian has gone away. He always worked for the people. It is an end of an era and it is a sad day for the entire Congress party.” Said Rajgangpur MLA Dr C.S. Raazen Ekka.
“ It is a loss for the entire Odisha. from the Govt. of Odisha a Guard of Honour was given, even I am present here. I want to extend condolences to the family members.” Said Odisha Health Minister Naba Kishore Das
Biswal was born in Thakurpada village of Odisha on 1 December 1939. He completed intermediate education from Government College, Sundargarh.
Biswal served as Chief Minister of Odisha from 7 December 1989 to 5 March 1990, and again from 6 December 1999 to 5 March 2000. He was also the MP of Sundergarh from 2009 to 2014. Biswal was the first Tribal chief Minister of Odisha
He is survived by his wife Urmilla Biswal and his four daughters Sabita, Sanjukta, Sunita and Amita.
