Last respects paid to former BJP president Bangaru Laxman

Hyderabad: The mortal remains of former BJP president Bangaru Laxman were consigned to the flames in Hyderabad on Sunday, even as patriarch L K Advani led party leaders in paying homage to his departed soul. [caption id=“attachment_1416361” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  A file photo of Bangaru Laxman. Reuters[/caption] The body of Laxman (74), who passed away on Saturday after a heart attack, was taken to the state BJP headquarters to enable BJP leaders and people to pay their last respects, before being taken to the crematorium at Punjagutta here, where his last rites took place. Advani, who came to the city to pay homage to the departed leader, hailed Bangaru Laxman’s services to the BJP. Senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu and other saffron party leaders, TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu, CPI state secretary K Narayana and others paid tributes to Laxman. Laxman, the first Dalit leader to head the BJP, who made an ignominious exit after being caught on camera accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh for a fictitious defence deal, died yesterday. Laxman, who had been ailing for sometime, suffered a fatal heart attack at a private hospital in Hyderabad on Saturday. He is survived by his wife, Susheela Laxman, who was a BJP MP of the 14th Lok Sabha, besides three daughters and a son. PTI