OP Chautala cremated with full state honours at Teja Khera amid tears & tributes

Om Prakash Chautala, Haryana’s five-time Chief Minister, was cremated with full state honours at his farm in Teja Khera village in Sirsa.

His sons, Ajay Chautala and Abhay Chautala, lit the funeral pyre together. Thousands of supporters showered flowers and chanted “OP Chautala Amar Rahe” as his body was taken to the cremation site, which was decorated with 12 quintals of flowers, and special red sandalwood was arranged for the ceremony.

Family unity in grief

The funeral also saw a rare moment of unity within the Chautala family, which has been politically divided for years. Both his sons, Ajay Chautala and Abhay Chautala, along with their nephews Dushyant and Digvijay Chautala, carried his mortal remains on their shoulders. Former minister Ranjit Chautala, his brother, stood beside them to thank the attendees. While Dushyant and Digvijay sat with prominent leaders who came to pay homage, MLA Arjun Chautala chose to sit among the people, sharing their grief.

Draped in the national flag, Chautala's body was kept at the farm for public viewing until 2 pm. His iconic green turban, which symbolised his identity, and spectacles, the election symbol of his party INLD, were placed on him.

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal and several Haryana Cabinet ministers paid tributes to the late Chief Minister. Congress leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Kumari Selja, Randeep Surjewala and Birender Singh, Independent Rajya Sabha MP Kartikeya Sharma, and Punjab’s former Finance Minister Manpreet Badal also paid their respects.

Chautala passed away on Friday in Gurugram due to a heart attack at the age of 89. The Haryana Government has declared three days of state mourning in his honour.

The Vice-President shared an emotional tribute to Chautala, recalling his deep connection with him. Dhankhar said, "I was shocked when I heard the news. Just five days ago, Chaudhary Sahab called me to inquire about my health and expressed his concern."

Dhankhar reminisced about their first meeting 35 years ago, when Chautala, with the blessings of Tau Devi Lal, advised him to remove the ‘P’ from "pleader" and guided him into politics. Dhankhar credited Chautala for mentoring him and helping him win a Lok Sabha seat, eventually becoming a minister. "I will never forget how he supported me throughout my journey," Dhankhar added.

Dhankhar recounted how Chautala always cared for him. "When I first became a governor and went to seek his blessings, he noticed my throat issue. He specially arranged laddoos for me, allowing me to eat just one but loading my car with a basketful," Dhankhar recalled with a smile.

Chautala’s dedication to farmers and rural development was a central theme in Dhankhar’s speech. "He believed that the progress of the nation is tied to the development of farmers and villages," Dhankhar said. He described Chautala as a fearless leader, a strong orator, and a guiding light for rural India.

Dhankhar also emphasised Chautala’s pivotal role in bringing significant changes to the country in 1989 and his unwavering commitment to farmers’ welfare, even in challenging circumstances.

Paying his final respects, Dhankhar said, "Chaudhary Om Prakash Chautala endured hardships and witnessed the cruelty of the system, but he remained steadfast in his mission. He is a source of inspiration for all of us." He urged people to follow Chautala’s example of resilience and dedication to the welfare of farmers and rural India. He also shared how Chautala once consoled him after the loss of his only son, saying, "Even Arjuna couldn’t save his son. Keep moving forward."