President Pranab Mukherjee, vice-president Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and leaders from across the political spectrum on Tuesday mourned the death of Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, hailing him as a “pragmatic” politician and an “able” administrator.
Dr Manmohan Singh and Mrs Sonia Gandhi will attend the funeral of Deshmukh at his native place Babhalgaon in Maharashtra on Wednesday. Union ministers Sharad Pawar and Sushilkumar Shinde will also be present, sources said. AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi confirmed the visit of Mrs
Gandhi.
BJP chief Nitin Gadkari also joined chief ministers, governors of states and Deshmukh’s Cabinet colleagues in recalling the contributions of the 67-year-old Congress stalwart and noted he was one of the leaders with grassroots contacts.
Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day as a mark of respect to the departed leader. His death was announced by home minister Sushilkumar Shinde in the Lok Sabha. The Cabinet met Tuesday night to condole the untimely death of Deshmukh. He will be given state funeral.
“The Cabinet has learnt with profound sorrow about the passing away of Vilasrao Deshmukh, Union Cabinet minister, today (14th August, 2012) at Chennai. The Cabinet condoles the untimely and sad demise of Vilasrao Deshmukh and extends its sincere condolences to the members of his family,” says the resolution passed by the Cabinet.
“I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of your husband, Vilasrao Deshmukh. Deshmukh was an esteemed colleague and a dear friend. He was a veteran politician and an able administrator who served the nation in different spheres. He was always concerned about the welfare and upliftment of the poor and downtrodden,” Mr Mukherjee said in a condolence message to Deshmukh’s wife.
Mr Mukherjee described Deshmukh as “a towering leader of Maharashtra” and said his “immense contribution to the welfare of the state as chief minister will always be remembered”.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the country and the state of Maharashtra have lost an illustrious son. “In a public career of about four decades, he served the country and the State of Maharashtra with a passionate ommitment for the public good,” he said.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar who had long association with Deshmukh in the Congress party, government and now as an ally, said in Deshmukh’s death not only Maharashtra but the entire nationa has lost a great leader and a promising statesman.
“His journey fromthe village Sarpanch to the chief minister and Union cabinet minister was admirable,” he said.