Last rites of Union Minister Anil Dave take place on Narmada banks in MP

Hoshangabad: Union Environment Minister Anil Dave, who died on Thursday, was cremated on Friday morning on the banks of the Narmada river in Bandrabhan in Madhya Pradesh as per his will.

Dave's body was last journey began from his 'Nadi ke Ghar' residence in Bhopal, from where his body, draped in the tricolour, was taken to the banks of the Narmada for the last rites.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, central ministers Uma Bharti, Anant Kumar and Harsh Vardhan, Khandwa MP Nandkumar Singh Chauhan, BJP General Secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya and senior RSS leaders were also paid tributes to the departed soul.

Also Read: Anil Madhav Dave: An amiable man of varied interests

His funeral pyre was lit by his younger brother, Abhay Dave.

Dave in his will, written in 2012, had desired to be cremated in Bandrabhan. The will also said that no memorial should be erected in his name and the people should rather plant trees.

Bandrabhan is where the late minister used to organise the International River Festival every two years. Dave's body was brought to Bhopal from Delhi in an Indian Air Force plane on Thursday.