Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was cremated with full state honors in his hometown Baramati on Wednesday, as thousands of teary-eyed supporters tried to catch a last glimpse of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, whose popularity transcended party lines.
As cries of “Amar Rahe Amar Rahe” rent the air, Ajit Pawar’s sons Parth and Jay lit the funeral pyre at Vidya Pratishthan ground around 12.15 pm. The body was brought to the ground after 10am from his home in Katewadi, where it was laid out for Baramatikars to pay their last respects.
Baramati appeared in full force. Shops, hotels, educational institutes and commercial establishments remained closed in the city for the second consecutive day. At dawn, it seemed like every road in the city led to the Vidya Prathishthan camp as Ajit Pawar’s supporters, NCP leaders and party workers came to pay their respects to their ‘Ajitdada’, as he was fondly addressed.
Among the mourners was Sudam Tambe, who had traveled from Parbhani district. “Ajitdada always kept his word. He showed respect even to the common party workers. On January 27, he had asked me to come to Baramati for a meeting on January 28 or yesterday. However, that did not happen… I could not meet him for the last time. But I want to greet him. He cared about everyone, no matter how small or big,” Tamble told The indian express.
Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday after the chartered plane he was traveling in crashed at Baramati airport, killing all five people on board. On Thursday, in addition to his wife, Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar, her uncle, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, her cousin, MP Baramati Supriya Suleand other family members, Union Home Minister amit shahChief Minister Devendra FadnavisUnion Minister for Transport and Highways Nitin GadkariUnion Civil Aviation Minister Murlidhar Mohol, Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath ShindeMNS chief Raj Thackeray and MPCC chief Harshavardhan Sapkal were present at the funeral.
On the floor, every inch of space seemed occupied by mourners. Some climbed trees to watch the last rites, while others climbed onto parked vehicles. From elderly people struggling to walk to students, hundreds continued to arrive from early in the morning. The police had to act quickly to prevent the crowd from getting too close to the funeral area.
At noon, when the last rites were being performed, the slogans (“Ekach Vaada, Ajitdada”, “Amar Rahe, Amar Rahe”, “Ajitdada, Amar Rahe”) reached a crescendo.
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Kavita Gadge, a resident of Baramati, said: “I also came yesterday. We feel like we have become zero. Everyone is silent. He has done a lot for the children here; see the schools here.”
Asha Bhole, another resident of Baramati, credited Ajit Pawar for the all-round development of the city. “I don’t think there is any city that can compare. I never met him or interacted with him, but I have great respect and consideration for him. All my life, I will be inspired by his life and times,” he added.
Baba Dhobale, a teacher from Baramati, said Ajit Pawat was a leader admired by all. “Today I am what I am because of Ajit Pawar. My family has been able to survive and grow because of Ajitdada. He supported every person who came in contact with him.
“We never thought we would have to see it like this,” said Rekha Gaikwad, a housewife from Baramati. “Ajitdada was our breath, our inspiration. He changed the destiny of Baramati,” he added.
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Avdhoot Pawar, a student who attended the funeral along with his friends, described Ajit Pawar as the “pride of Maharashtra”. “I admired the disciplined life he lived. I emulated him in my life. I always dreamed of meeting him. But that dream I just… I’ll never be able to see him again,” she said.
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