Assembly pays tributes to V P Singh

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 28: The Kerala Assembly was adjourned for the day on Friday, Nov 28 after paying tributes to former Prime Minister V P Singh, who passed away in New Delhi.

In his obituary reference, Speaker K Radhakrishnan said V P Singh was a respectable person to all with sincere political activities and was an ''outstanding model for principles and honesty in public life.'' Even while he was fighting against his illness, he had shown courage to take up the issues of the downtrodden, Mr Radhakrishnan said and added that the departed leader had taken a key role in implementing the Mandal Commission Recommendations, which earned him a permanent place in the minds of the common man.

Pointing out that V P Singh was the only Prime Minister in the country losing power in a no-confidence motion after the BJP withdrew its support on the Ayodha issue, he said with this single act he had proved that the country and secularism were more important than power.

In his demise, the country had lost a great socialist leader and a role-model of patriotism and progressive thinking, Mr Radhakrishnan said.

Paying golowing tributes, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said the death of V P Singh was a great loss to democratic, secular and progressive politics in the country.

He was instrumental in implementing reservation for the backward and SC/ST communities and was in the forefront in upholding social justice.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said V P Singh was a great leader who always stood for social justice. Although he was born into a royal family, he always worked for the downtrodden.

V P Singh was not ready to sacrifice his values for power and quit office immediately after the BJP withdrew its support to his government, Mr Chandy said.

Floor leaders of the CPI, RSP, IUML, and NCP also spoke condoling the death of the former Prime Minister.

UNI