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Congress bids adieu to Prasada

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

A flower-bedecked truck bearing Congress leader Jitendra Prasada's body arrived at the All India Congress Committee headquarters at 24, Akbar Road, at 1050 IST on Wednesday, with party leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Irfan Habib as pall-bearers.

Slogans of 'Jitendra Prasada amar rahe' rent the air, with supporters getting more vocal as dignitaries lined up to pay homage to the man who was recently reviled for having the gumption to challenge Sonia Gandhi for the party president's post.

Among the first to place floral tributes was Sonia, who arrived minutes before Prasada's body reached the venue. She refused to say anything, emphasising that she had expressed her condolences on Tuesday.

Hindu priests chanted Vedic hymns as a galaxy of party leaders queued up to pay floral tributes.

Among the leaders present were Madhavrao Scindia, Sushilkumar Shinde, K Natwar Singh, Balram Jakhar and Oscar Fernandes.

Prasada's body will be taken to his native Shajahanpur in UP later in the day for final rites.

EARLIER REPORTS
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Prasada was a valiant leader
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