Chadha family unites for ‘antim ardas’

New Delhi, Nov 22 (IANS) The families of Ponty Chadha and his estranged brother Hardeep Chadha Thursday put up a show of unity during the ‘antim ardas’ (final prayer) at Gurdwara Rakabganj here. Both the brothers were killed in a shootout over a property dispute Nov 17.

The two brothers were cremated four days ago at Lodhi Colony cremation ground a day after they were involved in a shootout over a property dispute at Chhattarpur farmhouse in which both were killed.

“Their mother Prakash Kaur had requested that her sons be cremated at the same time and the ‘antim ardas’ was today (Thursday),” a close associate told IANS.

The ‘ardas’ started at about 2:20 p.m. with the families of both brothers reaching the gurdwara in a convoy of eight SUVs.

Prakash Kaur was accompanied by Ponty’s wife Lovely, grandson Manpreet and his wife Sanamdeep. Hardeep’s wife, Jasdeep came accompanied by her two sons, Bikramjeet and Adhiraj and daughter Janpreet Kaur.

Rajinder alias Raju Chadha (the surviving brother of Ponty and Hardeep) also attended and coordinated the activities inside the gurdwara.

“May God give strength to their families to stay united in this time of hardship,” said Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president Paramjit Singh Sarna, while addressing the congregation.

Prominent people who attended the ‘ardas’ included union minister Preneet Kaur, Chairman of the SC/ST Commission P.L. Punia, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party leader D.P. Yadav, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Om Prakash Chautala, Bollywood personalities Pooja Bhatt, Randeep Hooda, Boney Kapoor and MP Mohammed Azharuddin besides a large number of industrialists.

“Over 40,000 families were supported by their (Chadha brothers) business. This is a loss to society which can never be fulfilled,” Ram Gopal Yadav told reporters.

“This is a sorrowful incident. They (the Chadhas) are very nice people. We are with them in this tough time,” Om Prakash Chautala said.

IANS 2012-11-22 21:52:05