Sabita Reddy also denied reports that traces of RDX were found in the Bell 430 helicopter that crashed in the Nallamala forest, killing Rajasekhara Reddy and four others.
Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, killed in a helicopter crash on September 2, was given a 21-gun salute at his funeral in Idupulapaya estate in his native Cuddapah district, state home minister P Sabita Indra Reddy said today.
"We have obtained a report on this after doubts were raised on the issue," Reddy told reporters here. "The funeral was completed with full military and state honours and the gun salute was given to the late chief minister."
Rajya Sabha member and former chief minister N Janardhana Reddy had criticised the state government for failing to ensure a state funeral for the departed leader and also not according the "mandatory" gun salute.
Even former Union minister of state for home Ch Vidyasagar Rao criticised the government for the manner in which Rajasekhara Reddy's funeral was conducted.
But Sabita Reddy said, "There were lakhs of people who thronged the funeral site. Their cries rented the air and the gun salute could not be heard in that."
Asked about the criticism that police failed to make proper transport arrangements even for the ministers, including herself, to reach the funeral site, the home minister clarified that nothing went amiss.
"The director-general of police and the chief secretary were required to be present at the funeral and as such they were allowed to go there in advance," she said. "Many of the ministers wanted to go by road but got stranded in the heavy traffic. We can't find fault with anyone when there is such a huge congregation of people."
Meanwhile, the home minister denied reports that traces of RDX were found in the Bell 430 helicopter that crashed in the Nallamala forest, killing Rajasekhara Reddy and four others.
"We have no information about any traces of RDX," she said.
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