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Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Union Minister of State for Defense Sanjay Seth, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and Karnataka Minister Ishwar Khandre were among those present.
Patil, a prominent member of the Lingayat community, was buried in a meditative posture at his farm in Varavanti village, six km from Latur.
This Lingayat ritual stems from their belief that the soul of the deceased is immediately united with Shiva and is not subject to the cycle of rebirth, thus making cremation unnecessary to release the soul from the body.
Patil, 90, died in Latur on Friday after a brief illness. In his political career spanning half a century, he held several positions in the central government, including Speaker of the Lok Sabha and several ministries.
Birla laid a wreath on Patil’s mortal remains. Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal and Lok Sabha member from Latur, Shivaji Kolge, were present.
Before the last rites, Patil was given a gun salute.
Birla said Patil served the country for seven decades through his contribution in social and political life.
He said, “He represented various positions. As Speaker of the Lok Sabha, he gave a new face to its legacy. He made many changes, including in parliamentary committees, taking the prestige of the Lok Sabha to a new height. His service and contribution in the social and political fields will always be remembered by the nation.”
Recalling his association with the late leader, Mallikarjun Kharge said he first met Patil in 1967 when he became an MLA.
He said, “We had close relations and kept meeting each other. He was a knowledgeable person with good character, who always thought and worked for the country. He also did good work in Marathwada with all his energy.”
Seth said that India has lost a humble leader and a strong pillar of democracy. “He dedicated himself to India as a true son”.
Minister Khandre described Patil’s demise as a loss to the nation.
“He was an artist, poet and thinker. He lived his life like a saint. He has also contributed in social, financial, religious and educational fields,” he said.
Patil started his career as a member of Latur Municipal Corporation in 1967 and was the Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh from 2010 to 2015.
Meanwhile, he was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from Latur twice between 1972 and 1980. He was a member of the Lok Sabha from Latur constituency for seven consecutive terms, winning the elections in 1980, 1984, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998 and 1999.
First inducted into the Indira Gandhi-led government as Minister of State for Defense (1980–82), Patil was given independent charge of the Ministry of Commerce (1982–83), from where he was shifted to Science and Technology, Atomic Energy, Electronics, Space and Ocean Development (1983–84).
During the Rajiv Gandhi-led government, he also held the charge as the Minister of Personnel, Defense Production, Civil Aviation and Tourism.
Patil was entrusted with the Union Home Ministry in 2004, but resigned on November 30, 2008, taking moral responsibility for the security lapses during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
In March 1979, news came that Gandhian leader Jayaprakash Narayan, admitted in a hospital in Mumbai, had died. Several legislatures and even the then Prime Minister Morarji Desai in Parliament expressed their condolences based on these unverified reports.
However, the then Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly, Shivraj Patil, insisted on official confirmation. He adjourned the House and verified the report by contacting the doctors treating Narayan at the hospital. Doctors confirmed that Narayan was still alive.
After this the Maharashtra Assembly passed a resolution wishing Narayan’s long life. He died several months later, in October 1979.