Vetran CPI(M) leader Varadarajan's Body Cremated

Body of the Vetran CPI(M) leader and a prominent trade unionist W R Varatharajan, who committed suicide few days back, was cremated on Tuesday evening at Kannamapet burial ground at Saidapet in Chennai.

Thousands of party carders participated in the funeral procession and paid their last respect to the slain leader.

Condoling the death of Varatharajan, State Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said, that he had left behind memories of his "strong will, service mindedness and love and affection even as questions about his demise linger on.

Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, State Communist leaders and workers also paid homage to CPI(M) leader W.R. Varadarajan.

On behalf of former Chief Minister and General Secretary of All Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(AIADMK) Ms J Jayalalithaa, party Treasurer and former Chief Minister O Panneer Selvam and Party Head Quarters Secretary K A Sengottian placed a wreath and paid homage.

The body of the late Varadarajan, which was recovered in a highly decomposed state from a lake here, was kept at the party office for paying homage.

Senior CPI(M) leaders including, State secretary G.Ramakrishnan, N. Varadarajan and CPI leader R. Nallakannu paid their last respects to Varadarajan.

The body of 64-year-old Varadarajan, who was reportedly upset over being stripped of key party posts on charge of misconduct early this month, was found a few days after he left home on February 11, leaving behind two unsigned letters.

Varadarajan, a CPI(M) Central Committee member, was divested of all party posts for “conduct that was not in conformity with Marxist principles.”

On Sunday, Varadarajan’s wife Saraswathy identified his highly decomposed body. Police said yesterday that the identity marks on the body tallied confirming that it was Varadarajan.

Varadarajan had wished to donate his body for medical research, but it had been cremated as it was highly decomposed, party sources said.

- Asian Tribune -