The mortal remains of NCP leader MLC Dr Vasant Pawar were consigned to flames on Saturday morning in the presence of his family and political parties.
Dr Pawar's body was brought to Nashik on Thursday night after he collapsed at the Mumbai airport and died due to a massive heart attack. It was kept at Dr Vasant Pawar Medical college at Adgaon in Nashik for a day. Thousands of people from Nashik and Niphad and his former constituency Akola, near Nashik thronged to offer their condolences.
The funeral was attended by NCP leader Sharad Pawar, DY CM Chhagan Bhujbal, MP Supriya Sule, ministers Madhukar Pichad, Vikhe Patil, Balasaheb Thorat, MLC Arun Gujrathi, Shiv sena leader Diwakar Rawate, MPs, MLAs cutting across party lines.
The presence of politicians across parties spoke volumes about the modest yet dynamic personality of Dr Pawar.
The funeral was also attended by 100-year-old veteran politician and a guide to Dr Pawar Dulajinana Patil.
Offering his condolences, Sharad Pawar said, "Unfortunately, this is my second MP from Nashik who has died at the airport (MP Murlidhar Mane had also passed away at the airport while on way to Delhi). It is very ironic that destiny did not offer any time for medical aid to a man who saved so many lives."
