Family and friends wept as news of Dr V.S. Acharya’s death reached them.
While senior BJP leaders and others arrived at his home to pay their respects, shops in Kadiyal downed their shutters as a mark of respect for the man who had earned the respect of the people.
Dr Acharya’s wife, Shantha, who received the news with stunned silence, broke down as family and friends arrived.
“I prayed to Goddess Rakteshwari to protect my mangalya bhagya during the Sankranthi pooja last night. But today she has taken my mangalya away. I wont live without him,” she was heard crying, while recalling that he had left for Bengaluru only that morning.
“I never thought it would be the last time I saw him,” she said, as family members and neighbours tried their best to console her.
In fact Shanta was asked by one of her sons to accompany her husband to Bengaluru as he was unwell. But since she had just returned from the capital, she declined saying he would return soon.
Unfortunately, it turned out to be his last trip. Dr Acharya’s brother, Vadiraja Acharya, who is about 85 years old, and lives nearby , and his wife, were inconsolable too.
Those who knew the minister revealed he had been disturbed since his cabinet colleagues were caught watching pornography in the state assembly while it was in session recently.
“He was a principled man to whom the party came first and then his family. As such he was deeply hurt by the incident, which had shamed it, although he did not say so publicly,” they said.
“He was such a good man that he took care of everybody who approached him. He was very down to earth and worked with honesty. It was because of him that Udupi saw so much development of late,” said K S Upadhyaya, a resident of Kunjibettu. Tearful neighbours said he was like family to them.
“His wife too is very close to all of us. It is very sad that we have lost such a sincere person,” said a neighbour with tears in her eyes.
