Farmers from across the state gather to bid Puttannaiah farewell

Mandya: The last rites of farmer leader, MLA K S Puttannaiah’swere held on Thursday at his home town Kyatanhalli in Pandavapura, Mandya district. The state’s farmers said goodbye to their leader in Puttannaiah’s coconut cultivate where he was laid to rest with full state honours. Lakhs of farmers from the furthest corners of the state accumulated for the last ceremonies and partook alongside the MLA’s family and companions.   

The last rites took place not according to any religious ceremony but with but with inspirational farmers’ movement songs. Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene covered Puttannaiah’s body with a green shawl as a symbol of the Famer’s union of the state.

Huge number of farmers who came from all over the state brought with them fistfuls of mud from their villages to put on Puttannaiah’s last remains. They poured the mud that they brought from their fields far away on the MLA’s body to signify and seal the deep connection that their leader had with Mother Earth.

Deputy Commissioner N Manjushree and Superintendent of Police were present at the ceremony. Among others, seers of different mutts, district in-charge minister M Krishnappa and farmer leaders from across Karnataka were present at the ceremony. JD(S) National President H D Deve Gowda and Swaraj India Party leader Yogendra Yadav also took part and last respects to the departed farmer leader.