New Delhi, July 27: National leaders from various parties gathered at Parliament house and observed a one-minute silence to pay homage to the late Vice President Krishna Kant.

President A P J Abdul Kalam
President Kalam said the nation has suffered an irreparable loss and is deprived of a man of great eminence in the untimely death of Vice President Krishna Kant. "I am deeply shocked and grieved to learn of the sad and untimely demise of kant", President said in a condolence message.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Death of Vice President Krishna Kant an era has come to an end. "The untimely demise of Kant has left the entire nation in a state of shock. It is an end of an era," he said at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after conveying his condolences to Suman Kant, wife of vice president. "He fought Britishers first and later fought for democracy during emergency. Till yesterday he was with us and today we are condoling his death", the Prime Minister said. Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani
He was among the early callers at the AIIMS, described Kant`s death as a "big loss to the nation, Parliament and public life." "He himself and his entire family were devoted to the freedom struggle and the nation. He was a special person in all respects. His death is a major setback," Advani told reporters. Recalling his long association with the late leader, the deputy premier said, "our closeness grew during the emergency and the Jay Prakash movement. When everyone was sleeping, he was awake and worked till midnight. His life was an example for others."

Congress president Sonia Gandhi Sonia Gandhi expressed shock over the death of Vice President Krishna Kant and said he never deviated in his commitment to serve the people of the country with exceptional devotion. "For nearly five years he presided over the Rajya Sabha with engaging tolerance, goodwill and high distinction. As the second citizen of the state, he fulfilled his duties faithfully and conscientiously," she said in a message. Conveying her condolences and that of the party to his wife Suman Kant, Gandhi said he has left a void in the national life which would be difficult to fill.

Lok Sabha speaker Manohar Joshi
Manohar Joshi today expressed shock over the death of Vice-President Krishna Kant whom he described as a great freedom fighter, eminent parliamentarian and a true Gandhian. Joshi, who is rushing back to the Capital from Mumbai following the death of the vice-president, said in a condolence message, Kant would be remembered for long for conducting proceedings of the Rajya Sabha in an able manner.


Former prime minister I K Gujral
Gujral said in Kant`s death, "I have lost a friend and brother." Describing the long association between his family and Kant`s family, Gujral said, "he was an idealist and we were in jail together."

Justice H R Khanna, former judge of the Supreme Court
He said that the country has lost a great human being who belonged to a family of freedom fighters. He was among the first to raise the voice against criminalisation of politics, Khanna said.

Parliamentary Affairs and Communications Minister Pramod Mahajan
He expressed deep sorrow on the death of Vice-President Krishan Kant and said his untimely demise was a personal shock to him. "His untimly death has come as a personal shock to me. Krishan Kant unveiled a new parliamentary vision as chairman of Rajya Sabha. His commitment in adhering to parliamentary procedures, neutrality in conducting business helped see through many unresolved issues and situations," Mahajan in his condolence message said.

Gujarat Governor Sunder Singh Bhandari
Condoling the death of the Vice-President said it has come a deep shock to the whole nation. "Krishan Kant had taken active part in Quit India movement and his contribution in the public life and social services would always be remembered," he said.

Former Election Commissioner G V G Krishnamurthy
In his condolence message said that the death of Krishan Kant has left a void in national life. "His services to the nation will be remembered for his crusade for clean politics as an eminent freedom fighter," Krishnamurthy said.

Nationalist Congress Party leader P A Sangma

P A Sangma said Kant`s services to the nation in various capacities would always be remembered. Bharatiya Janta Party
BJP condoles the death of Vice President Krishan Kant saying it was a loss for the country and leaves a void difficult to fill. "He was a patriot whose death has left a void which would be difficult to fill. He was a person who could carry all on his shoulders," party spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said. A meeting of office bearers was held to condole Kant`s death. Party president Venkaiah Naidu, also a Rajya Sabha member, who is currently on a tour of southern states, has cancelled his engagements and will be here tonight, Naqvi said.

<West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya in his condolence message from Rustenberg in South Africa said the country had lost a great patriot. "As vice-president Kant won the love and respect of the people," he said.


Chief Minister of Sikkim- Pawan Chamling
Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister of Sikkim, expressed grief and said the state could not forget his trip there in April last when he had laid the foundation stone of an airport.

Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna
Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna said the nation lost a principled leader who strived hard for establishing "democratic socialism and quality of rights".
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi
Expressing profound grief, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said Kant was committed to the values of democracy.
Nagaland Chief Minister S C Jamir
Describing kant as essentially a Gandhian, Nagaland Chief Minister S C Jamir said he had served people with dedication and commitment throughout his life. Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi
Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi said Kant was an able administrator and a person of high thinking. With his death the country lost a prominent soicalist leader who tirelessly fought against social inequality, she said.

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Mukut Mithi, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh
Mukut Mithi, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, said the country has lost a freedom fighter and a true Gandhian representing the old generation of politicians who believed in value based politics.

Railway minister Nitish Kumar
Railway minister Nitish Kumar described Kant as a great freedom fighter and champion of human rights.

National Congress leader Jagannath Mishra
The National Congress leader Jagannath Mishra termed Kant`s sudden demise as a great loss to the nation. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah expressed deep sorrow and said "with (Kant`s) death the country has lost yet another stalwart of the freedom struggle era".
Abdullah said Kant stood for value based politics and left an indelible legacy in the political and public life.
Former Chief Minister of West Bengal Jyoti Basu
Veteran Marxist leader and former Chief Minister of West Bengal Jyoti Basu expressed deep shock and said Kant`s friendly approach and attitude endeared him to all who came in contact with him.

Basu said the way Kant conducted himself in the Rajya Sabha was exemplary.
Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi
Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK Pesident M Karunanidhi said Kant, known as one of the "young Turks", rose to high position in the political arena. He became the vice president after serving as Governor of Andhra Pradesh.

Uttaranchal Chief Minister N D Tiwari
Uttaranchal Chief Minister N D Tiwari described Kant as a parliamentarian of high Calibre and said decisions taken by him as chairman of Rajya Sabha will serve as milestones in constitutional and parliamentary proceedings.

Pondicherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy
Pondicherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy said Kant discharged his duties in a most impartial manner.
Minister for petroleum and natural gas Ram Naik
Minister for petroleum and natural gas Ram Naik said Kant played a leading role in the struggle against emergency.
"During his tenure, the conduct of the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha were elevated to great heights," Naik said.

Others:
Arunachal Pradesh Governor Arvind Dave, Sikkim Governor Kidar Nath Sahani, Gujarat Governor Sundersingh Bhandari, Lt Governor of Pondicherry Dr Rajani Rai, Tamil Nadu Governor T S Ramamohan Rao and Uttaranchal Governor Surjit Singh Barnala also condoled Kant`s demise. Pakistan express `deep condolences` over Kant`s death
Musharraf expressed "deep condolences" over sudden death of Indian vice president Krishan Kant today, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Musharraf, in a condolence message to president A P J Abdul Kalam, said he "fondly remembered" meeting Kant during a visit to India last year.
"I had found him to be a man of great learning and goodwill," Musharraf said. "We share the sorrow of the government and the people of India on Kant`s demise."



Union rural development minister Shanta Kumar
Union rural development minister Shanta Kumar in his message described Kant as great freedom fighter who upheld the high traditions of democracy.

The Himachal Pradesh government has declared three days of state mourning from July 27 to 29 as a mark of respect to Kant.



Uttar Pradesh BJP president Vinay Katiyar
Uttar Pradesh BJP president Vinay Katiyar also paid homage to Kant.
Madhya pradesh Governor Bhai Mahavir
Madhya pradesh Governor Bhai Mahavir said in the death of Kant, the country had lost a great thinker and a dedicated social worker.

Paying tributes to Kant, Bhai Mahavir recalled his association with him as a Rajya Sabha colleague.
He said despite belonging to different political ideologies, Kant never hesitated in calling a spade a spade.
In his condolence message, chief minister Digvijay Singh said Kant would always be remembered for his contribution in the country`s freedom struggle, social service and politics.
A committed socialist, Kant worked all his life and his death was a big loss to the country, he added.

Bureau Report