Rahul Gandhi pays tribute to Himachal ex-CM Virbhadra Singh

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 9

Former AICC president Rahul Gandhi arrived here today to pay his last respect to six-time Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. He reached the state Congress office, Rajiv Bhawan, where Virbhadra’s body was kept for party workers to pay tributes. He laid a wreath on the body and offered condolences to Virbhadra’s wife Pratibha Singh and son Vikramaditya Singh, the sitting MLA from Shimla (Rural). He, however, did not interact with mediapersons.

Anand Sharma, Pawan Bansal to attend funeral

A central delegation of the party, including CWC member Anand Sharma, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Bhagel, AICC treasurer Pawan Bansal and in-charge of Congress affairs in Himachal Rajiv Shukla, will be representing Sonia Gandhi at the funeral at Rampur tomorrow.

It has been learnt that a central delegation of the party, including CWC member Anand Sharma, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Bhagel, AICC treasurer Pawan Bansal and CWC member and in-charge of Congress affairs in Himachal Rajiv Shukla will be representing Sonia Gandhi at the funeral at Rampur tomorrow.

As the hearse carrying Virbhadra’s body arrived at the Congress office, party workers raised slogans of “Raja Sahib amar rahein”. Earlier, the hearse drove through the Mall Road and the Cart Road to reach the Congress office. Shops remained closed as a mark of respect to the late Congress leader.

CWC member Rajiv Shukla, AICC secretary Sanjay Dutt, state Congress president Kuldeep Rathore, Congress Legislative Party Leader Mukesh Agnihotri, party legislators and office-bearers were present at the party office before the body was taken to Rampur for cremation to be held tomorrow.

Gandhi later left for Charrabra, about 12 km from here, where he would be staying at his sister Priyanka Gandhi’s house. Sources said he was expected to return to Delhi on July 11.