Amid chanting of vedic hymns, the mortal remains of Union minister Sis Ram Ola were consigned to flames with full state honours at his native village Ardawata in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district today.
Ola's elder son Brijendra Ola, an MLA from Jhunjhunu, lit the pyre at the cremation ground as priests chanted Vedic mantras.
Family members, friends, admirers and leaders across the political spectrum bade Ola, Union Labour and Employment minister and a popular Jat leader, a tearful adieu.
A contingent of Rajasthan Police gave a 21-gun salute and buglers sounded the last post as a mark of respect to the departed leader who breathed his last at the age of 86 in a hospital in Gurgaon yesterday.
Wreaths were laid on the body of Ola, which was draped in tricolur, by a large number of leaders.
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, RLD leader Ajit Singh, Union ministers N N Meena, Sachin Pilot and Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, and Congress MP Jyoti Mirdha attended the cremation.
Ola's body was brought to his village Ardawata from Delhi by road last night.
As a mark of respect to the departed leader, the national flag was flown at half mast in Delhi and the capitals of states and Union Territories.
