Udaipur: The funeral of former Union minister and senior Congress leader Girija Vyas took place in Udaipur Friday. Her nephew, Vivek Sharma, performed the last rites at Ashok Nagar Mokshdham following Vedic traditions, with 104 hymns recited.
Earlier, the funeral procession saw the participation of several politicians from Congress and BJP, including former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, who shouldered the bier. Vyas passed away Thursday around 7.15pm at Zydus Hospital in Ahmedabad. Her body was brought to Udaipur late at night and kept at her residence in Daityamagra for final respects Friday.
On March 31, Dr Vyas was performing Gangaur puja at home when her scarf caught fire from a lamp. A worker at her home managed to help her, and she was taken to a private hospital in Udaipur. She was later referred to Ahmedabad, where her condition worsened due to 90% burns. Her brother, Gopal Sharma, mentioned that her health was initially improving but deteriorated again two days before her death on May 1.
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter expressing her grief at the death. “I am shocked due to the sudden demise of Girija Vyas after a month-long treatment following the fire tragedy happened with her. Her passing away is a loss for the Congress party, literature fraternity. Her contribution in social, political and education field will be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved family,” Gandhi said in her letter.
Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge in a post on X termed the death “extremely sad.” “An intellectual politician, an influential orator and an able administrator, her demise is an irreparable loss to the Congress family,” he said.
Vyas became an MLA in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly at the age of just 25. She remained a part of the Congress for the next four decades. She would have completed 79 in July.
Former Speaker of the Assembly and senior Congress leader CP Joshi visited Vyas’s home to offer floral tributes and comfort her brother. Former Congress Working Committee member and ex-MP from Udaipur, Raghuveer Singh Meena, along with his wife, former Salumbar MLA Basanti Meena, also paid their respects. Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra and Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly Tika Ram Jully participated in a meeting held ahead of the funeral procession. Udaipur BJP MP Mannalal Rawat visited Vyas’s home to pay his last respects and placed flowers. Dr Rawat expressed that her passing is a significant loss to the political arena.
