From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Oct 30: Governor Thaawar Chand Gheholot, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra and a host of dignitaries visited the Kanteerava Stadium and paid floral tributes to Kannada cinema actor and ‘power star’ Puneeth Rajkumar, who passed away on Friday morning after a massive cardiac arrest.

The Chief Minister met and spoke to Kannada matinee idol Late Dr Rajkumar’s elder son Raghavendra Rajkumar and other members of the bereaved actor’s family on the arrangements for the funeral on Sunday.

The body of the actor has been kept at the Kanteerava Stadium to enable the public to pay homage and tributes to the actor.

The funeral will be held at Kanteerava Studios, where Dr Rajkumar and his deceased wife Parvathamma Rajkumar have their samadhis, on Sunday after the arrival of Puneeth Rajkumar’s daughter from the United States, where she is studying.

The police as well as BBMP officials are making all arrangements for the last rites as the State Government has decided to accord the honour of State Funeral.

Speaking to reporters at the Kanteerava Stadium, after paying tributes and talking to the members of the bereaved family of the young actor, who passed away at a young age of 46 while doing his morning workout at a gym, the Chief Minister said: “Puneeth Rajkumar was a young and popular actor. His untimely demise has come as a shock and grief to all of us. We must make all arrangements to ensure that the funeral is held in a befitting manner and dignity.’’

Bommai appealed to the public to maintain peace and ensure that no untoward incidents happened in the city that would mar the image of the actor and the State. "Let us behave in a responsible manner and maintain restraint and self-discipline. Nothing should be done to harm the actor’s image and the peace as well as harmony, which is part of Karnataka’s culture,’’ he added.