Kerala News Highlights: No official honours for former CM Oommen Chandy's funeral

Kerala News Highlights: The funeral of the former CM of Kerala Oommen Chandy will take place on July 20 at St. George Orthodox Church in Puthupally.

3.40 PM: Life Mission case: SC defers hearing of M Sivasankar's bail plea to August 2

The Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred the hearing of former principal secretary to Chief Minister M Sivasankar's bail plea in connection with the Life Mission scam to August 2 citing medical grounds. 

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3.04 PM: No official honours for former CM Oommen Chandy's funeral

The family of former CM and Congress veteran Oommen Chandy has denied official honours during the funeral and the decision was informed to the government in writing. The family has taken this decision as per Oommen Chandy's wish. The Chief Secretary informed that the request of the Chandy family has been accepted by the government. The funeral will be held after 2 pm on Thursday at Puthuppally. 

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1.58 PM: Kerala Assembly session will commence from August 7 informed Chief Minister's Office on Wednesday.

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1.16 PM: Rahul Gandhi will attend former CM Oommen Chandy's funeral tomorrow at Puthupally 

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12.03 PM: Veteran Congress leader Oommen Chandy's funeral procession reaches Vembayam.

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12.00 PM: Oommen Chandy to be laid to rest next to priests at Puthupally church

Kerala's former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will be laid to rest at the St. George Orthodox Church in Puthupally on Thursday. According to reports, for the first time, Chandy's mortal remains will be buried in a cemetery meant only for priests. At the same time, it will be the spot where Chandy planted coconut trees before.

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11.46 AM: The funeral procession of Oommen Chandy progresses at a snail's pace as thousands gather to pay tributes to their beloved leader. In the first 4 hours, only 12 kms were recovered.

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11.11 AM: 'Oommen Chandy was a compassionate leader', says NSS General Secretary G Sukumaran Nair

NSS General Secretary G Sukumaran Nair said that former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy fulfilled the reasonable demands of NSS more than any other chief minister. "He was brave, strong, and compassionate. There is no other leader in India who dedicated his life to the poor," he said. 

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9.53 AM: DYFI activist hacked to death in Kayamkulam

A DYFI worker was hacked to death in the middle of the road in Kayamkulam on Tuesday evening by bike-borne assailants. The deceased has been identified as Ambadi (21).

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9.19 AM: Kerala weeps for former CM who put 'people first' always: Opposition leader V D Satheesan

Opposition leader V D Satheesan took to Twitter and said, "Today #OommenChandy took one hour to reach the Kerala Assembly building from his home which is two kms away. He is returning to Puthupalli today, a journey without a come back. Kerala weeps for the leader and former CM who put People First always."

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8.40 AM: Lyricist Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri recalls his bonding with former CM Oommen Chandy

Malayalam lyricist and music director Kaithapram Damodaran Namboodiri recalled a fond memory of the Congress veteran Oommen Chandy who visited his house alone after the former suffered a stroke about a decade ago. He was also granted Rs 5 lakh during the Congress regime under Chandy for his medical treatment. 

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8.05 AM: Oommen Chandy's funeral procession to Kottayam today

Former CM Oommen Chandy's funeral procession from Thiruvananthapuram to Kottayam's Puthupally has started. Schools in the Kottayam district will remain closed from the afternoon.