Bengaluru, March 21 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi and thanked him for his cooperation to bring back the mortal remains of Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagoudar who was killed in Ukraine shelling on March 1. He called Modi on phone to convey his gratitude after returning to the city from Chalageri where he paid his last respects to Naveen. The conversation lasted for about 3 minutes. “You had a major role in getting the mortal remains of Naveen back home. You have fulfilled the desire of his parents to see the face of their son at least one last time. I am thanking you on behalf of the people of Karnataka for this,” Bommai told the Prime Minister. “It is not easy to bring the dead body from the war zone. It has been made possible because of your good diplomatic relations,” he said, appreciating the Prime Minister’s efforts. Earlier, Bommai paid rich tributes to Modi. He said the PM made an impossible task possible by bringing back Naveen’s body by virtue of his Bhagirath-like sustained effort. “PM Modi has made an impossible task possible through his Bhagirath-like effort. India had airlifted its citizens from Libya too when under attack from ISIS. These tasks prove to the world that India is a big power,” he told reporters after receiving Naveen’s body at Kempegowda International Airport here. Bhagirath is a legendary king of the Ikshvaku dynasty, who brought the sacred River Ganges, personified as the Hindu River Goddess Ganga, to Earth from the Heavens. Talking about Modi’s humanitarian concern, Bommai said the bringing back of Naveen’s body shows India’s strength in the world. “There are many who criticise him. But the Prime Minister has shown that success could be achieved through honest and humane efforts,” he said. Bommai said the sustained and intense efforts of the central government made it possible through diplomatic contacts with the neighboring countries of Ukraine and succeeding in getting safe passage for special flights to bring the mortal remains. He said the Centre did a commendable job through Operation Ganga to bring back its students stranded in Ukraine. “Many students have returned from Ukraine. Unfortunately Naveen fell victim to a missile splinter attack. Our Prime Minister Modi had consoled the family over phone,” he said. Operation Ganga, which went on for three weeks, saw 19,000 Indian students back, of which 572 were from Karnataka, he said. “Another 62 students from Karnataka had returned before the start of the Operation. I was in constant contact with the Prime Minister’s Office and External Affairs minister S Jaishankar, our MPs too put in their efforts to make it a success,” he said. The mortal remains of Naveen were secured by contacting Funeral Agents and it was embalmed and kept in a mortuary, Bommai said. Despite shelling near the mortuary the mortal remains were brought to Warsaw where it was given a zinc coating and brought to Dubai from where the flight ultimately arrived in Bengaluru, he said. Also Karnataka government has had a big role in this successful Operation as it maintained sustained coordination to bring back its students through Delhi, Gaziabad and Mumbai till the students from the state reached their homes, Bommai said. Elaborating the process, he said a Whatsapp group was set up to establish contact with the students and they were counselled. “Within 12 hours a toll free number was established to render assistance. IAS officer Manoj Rajan was in constant touch with the Ukraine Embassy,” he said. Thanking everyone who were involved in Operation Ganga, Bommai said, “The pain and grief will always remain that Naveen could not be brought back alive. We will render all the help needed for his family.” BDN SHK1856