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Former deputy prime minister Devi Lal, who passed away on Friday evening, will be cremated in Delhi's Kisan Ghat, on Saturday at 1600 hours (IST), in keeping with his status as one of the tallest leaders of the farming community.
Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala told this to reporters after receiving a call from Vajpayee to this effect.
Earlier, the cremation was scheduled to be held in Devi Lal's ancestral village Chautala.
Union Home Minister L K Advani told rediff.com, "Devi Lal was a statesman and a giant among leaders. When I first met him several years ago, I realized that despite being in politics, Devi Lal lived a simple life. There was nothing to differentiate him from the farmers whose cause he espoused."
"More recently, we had the opportunity of working with him, both at Haryana and at the Centre. His style of functioning is just marvelous," Advani added.
"He has been a source of inspiration to Parliamentarians and would always continue to lead and inspire us," he said.
Former Delhi chief minister S S Verma told rediff.com, Devi Lalji was like a hero to us and in his death we have lost our idol."
"He always fought for the downtrodden and farmers. He never compromised on his principles. He was the tallest leader in Haryana and the architect of modern Haryana," Verma said.
Speaking about Devi Lal, Union Minister S S Dhindsa said, "It was Devi Lal and Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal who sorted out the various problems that cropped up after Haryana was carved out of Punjab."
"Devi Lal's death is a great loss to the farmers community," he said.
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