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Hyderabad bids tearful farewell to Muslim leader
Thousands of people bid a tearful adieu to veteran Muslim leader and president of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, who died here Monday night.
- IANS
- Published: 00:02 October 1, 2008
Hyderabad: Thousands of people bid a tearful adieu to veteran Muslim leader and president of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, who died here Monday night.
Many were seen crying inconsolably as the senior parliamentarian was laid to rest with full state honours in his family graveyard near Darussalam, the MIM headquarters in the Aghapura neighbourhood.
Earlier, Namaz-e-Janaza or the last prayers were offered at the sprawling Darussalam grounds. More than 100,000 people attended the prayers led by Maulana Mufti Khaleel Ahmad, head of the Islamic university Jamia Nizamia.
Owaisi, 76, who represented the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency from 1984 to 2004, died of prolonged illness on Monday.
His three sons and other family members were trying to fight tears as the body was lowered into the grave.
Thousands vied with one another to catch a last glimpse of the Salar-e-Millat or commander of the community, who virtually ruled the old city of Hyderabad for many years.
Emotional mourners
Earlier, slogans such as "Salar-e-Millat Zindabad" rent the air as the funeral procession inched towards the graveyard. Police had a tough time controlling the emotional mourners from reaching forward to touch the coffin.
A pall of gloom descended on the city as usually busy roads in the old city wore a deserted look. Black flags were pitched on the streets to mourn Owaisi's death. The Andhra Pradesh government declared a holiday for all offices and educational institutions.
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