Former Uttarakhand CM BC Khanduri laid to rest with state honours; VP Radhakrishnan, CM Dhami pay tribute
Dehradun, May 20
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday paid floral tributes to senior BJP leader Major General Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri in Dehradun.
Major General (Retd.) Khanduri was the former Uttarakhand Chief Minister, who passed away at the age of 91.
Uttarakhand Governor Lieutenant General (Retd) Gurmit Singh also paid tribute to the late BJP veteran.
The mortal remains of Major General (Retd.) BC Khanduri was taken with full state honours from his residence in Vasant Vihar, Dehradun, to the BJP state office on Balbir Road to allow people to pay their last respects.
CM Dhami, cabinet ministers and BJP leaders were present during the funeral procession.
Earlier in the day, Vice President Radhakrishnan visited Khanduri's residence to pay tribute to the departed leader and offer condolences to the bereaved family.
The Uttarakhand government declared a three-day state mourning from May 19 to 21 following Khanduri's demise. The National Flag will fly at half-mast at all government offices across the state during the mourning period, and no official entertainment programmes will be organised.
The state government has also announced that all government offices will remain closed in observance of the former Chief Minister's last rites, which are being performed with full state honours.
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over Khanduri's demise and said he made invaluable contributions to the nation both in the armed forces and public life.
"I am deeply saddened by the passing of former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Major General Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri (Retd.) Ji. From the armed forces to the political arena, he made invaluable contributions, for which he will always be remembered," PM Modi said in a post on X.
The Prime Minister also praised Khanduri's role in the development of Uttarakhand and his efforts towards improving connectivity across the country during his tenure as Union Minister.
Chief Minister Dhami, in his condolence message, described Khanduri's demise as an "irreparable loss" for Uttarakhand and national politics.
"From his military life to his public life, his persona remained devoted to the nation's interests and public service," Dhami said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
From commanding soldiers to leading a state - what a remarkable journey. Uttarakhand has lost a giant. The three-day state mourning is fitting for someone who gave his entire life to the nation.
It's heartening to see leaders from across the political spectrum paying their respects. Major General Khanduri was above politics - he was first a soldier who loved India, then a politician. His simplicity and integrity were legendary.
While I respect his military service, we should also critically examine his political legacy. The development in Uttarakhand during his tenure was mixed. But yes, as a human being and soldier, he commanded respect. Rest in peace, sir. 🕊️
A proud son of Uttarakhand. His contribution to improving infrastructure in the hill state cannot be overstated. As a young professional from Dehradun, I can tell you the roads he built are still the backbone of our state. Om Shanti. 🙏
It's sad that we only remember leaders when they pass away. Major General Khanduri was a man of principles - he resigned as CM when his government lost the moral mandate. Such integrity is rare in politics today. A true gentleman.
K Kavya N My father served We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.