Mangalore: Mortal Remains of Dr V S Acharya Brought to City
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Feb 14: The mortal remains of state higher education minister and Udupi district incharge minister Dr V S Acharya were brought to the city by a special flight here on Tuesday February 14.
Dr V S Acharya passed away on Tuesday morning after a massive heart attack. He was attending a programme in Bangalore at the time, and collapsed on the dais.
The body was brought to Mangalore airport at around 6.50 pm, and taken directly to Udupi by road where the last rites will be held the same night.
Veteran BJP leader L K Advani is expected to attend the funeral, so also former minister Janardhan Poojary. Chief minister Sadananda Gowda and other leaders will also be present.
Speaking to media persons at Bajpe airport, former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa condoled the death of Dr Acharya and said that he was shocked by his sudden demise.
"In his initial days in politics, Dr Acharya visited every nook and corner of villages in the state. He was a good companion to me, and the BJP party has time and again benefitted from his timely advice and suggestions. He was also actively involved in planning this year's state budget," Yeddyurappa said.
"Dr Acharya was a little upset over the recent political issues and problems in the state," he confessed.
Dr Acharya's son Dr Kiran Acharya told media persons that he was perhaps the only minister who had educated all his children in the Kannada medium till 10th standard, a fact which testified his love for the language as well as his perspective on education.
Chairman of the Third Finance Commission Task Force A G Kodgi, state energy minister Shobha Karandlaje, industries minister Murgesh Nirani, MLA Abhayachandra Jain, Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat, Mangalore mayor Praveen, Padmababha Kottari, Mangalore BJP unit president Srikar Prabhu, coporator Naveen D'Souza, KPCC secretary Ivan D'Souza and others were present at the airport.
Around 200 people thronged to the airport to have a last glimpse of Dr Acharya.