AB Bardhan to be cremated today

The mortal remains of veteran CPI leader A.B. Bardhan, who passed away on Saturday after a prolonged illness, will be kept at the party headquarters here on Monday before the final rites are conducted in the afternoon.

Condoling the death of the CPI stalwart, senior BJP leader L.K. Advani said he was fully committed to his principles, and protecting the nation’s secular fabric was one of his commitments.

Expressing grief, the BJP veteran said Bardhan was a leading figure of the trade union movement and a voice of the poor and will always be remembered for his excellent oratory skill.

CPI national secretary D. Raja said the cremation will take place at electric crematorium here at 3 pm on Monday.

Before that, his body will be kept at the party headquarters, Ajoy Bhavan, where leaders of the Left and other parties can have his last glimpse.

“Comrade Bardhan was the senior-most and tallest leader of the Left nationally and commanded respect cutting across party lines. We expect party activists and leaders of other parties to turn up here tomorrow... His body will be brought to the party headquarters around 10 am tomorrow so that people can have his last glimpse before we proceed towards electric crematorium at the Nigambodh Ghat,” Mr Raja said.

He said Bardhan’s family members, including his son Ashok and daughter Alka Barua, were already in the city.

The CPI leader said messages from leaders cutting across party lines expressing their grief over Bardhan’s demise have been received by the party. The CPI(M), in a message, expressed deep grief over the death of Bardhan saying the Left movement in the country has lost an “invaluable” leader, as it underscored his role in building unity amongst Communist and Left parties.

“The politburo expresses its deep grief at passing away of Bardhan, veteran leader of Communist and working class movement of India... Comrade Bardhan, as the general secretary of the CPI, helped build Left unity. He played a key role in strengthening relations with the CPI(M). Comrade Bardhan’s life and work was that of a dedicated Communist leader. In his death, the CPI and the Left movement have lost an invaluable leader,” it said in a statement.

Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan, who steered the party during the turbulent period of coalition politics at the national level in 1990s, was also a leading figure of the trade union movement and Left politics.

He rose to become the general secretary and then President of All India Trade Union Congress, the oldest trade union in India. He moved to Delhi politics in 1990s and became the deputy general secretary of CPI. He succeeded Indrajit Gupta as general secretary of the party in 1996.