Debendra Pradhan bid farewell with state honours

Bhubaneswar: The mortal remains of former Union minister Debendra Pradhan were consigned to flames at Swargadwar in Puri on Tuesday. The sea breeze carried the chants of Sanskrit shlokas as flames rose to the sky, marking the final journey of the beloved leader.Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alongside his elder brother Soumendra, performed the final rites for their father. The air resonated with emotional cries of "Debendra Pradhan Amar Rahe" as supporters bid their final farewell to their cherished leader.The ceremony witnessed a distinguished gathering, including chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, revenue minister Suresh Pujari, and Puri MP Sambit Patra. Adding to the diverse assembly was the presence of prominent spiritual leader Yoga guru Ramdev, along with citizens from various walks of life who came to pay their last respects.Debendra, a veteran politician and former Union minister, was a respected figure known for his life- long dedication to public service and strong ideological commitment. Later in the day, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and his wife Jayashree visited Dharmendra's residence in Bhubaneswar to offer their heartfelt condolences.Recalling his association with the late leader, Kambhampati said Debendra Pradhan was a man dedicated to his ideology and spent his life fighting for the people's cause. "I first met him during 1991-92 when he was the president of Odisha BJP. At that time, L.K. Advani ji and Murli Manohar Joshi ji were leading separate yatras. We accompanied them to the Andhra Pradesh border, where we handed over the yatras to Debendra Pradhan," Kambhampati recalled.