Rich tributes paid to Ghani Khan

Kolkata, Apr 14 (UNI) Cutting across political differences, leaders of all parties paid rich tributes to the memory of veteran Congress leader A B A Ghani Khan Choudhury who died at a city nursing home today following a protracted illness.

Expressing deep shock at the passing away of Mr Khan Choudhury, CPI(M) politbureau member and former Chief minister Jyoti Basu said he knew him personally.

''Though he was a Congress leader he used to come to my house here, I also visited his house in Malda. I also inquired about his health after Mr Khan Choudhury was admitted to the nursing home.'' Mr Basu also expressed condolences to the members of the bereaved family.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee who is away in Bankura for election campaign also condoled the death of Mr Khan Choudhury.

Left Front Chairman and CPI (M) state Secretary Biman Bose recalling his long relationship with Mr Khan Choudhury said '' though he was my political opponent we had a very cordial relations. When he was the Railway minister we organised several protest rallies to press for our demands which he always fulfilled,'' Mr Bose said adding he was also remembered for greatly improving the railway communication network. ''I know him for long and particularly his contribution in the society and politics as a whole,'' the Front Chairman said.

West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi who went to the nursing home after hearing the news of Mr Khan Choudhury's death described his passing away as ''very sad''. He also offered his condolences to the bereaved family members of the veteran Congress leader.

Information and Broadcasting minister Priyaranjan Das Munsi who also rushed to the nursing home on hearing the news cancelling his scheduled press conference, described the death as a 'national loss'.

Senior Congress leader and former AICC member Salman Khurshid also described Mr Khan Choudhury's death as a 'great loss to the party and the void is very difficult to fill up'.

All India Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee who is also busy campaigning in Bankura district, expressed her grief at the passing away of the former Railway minister. She described him as a '' great leader'' who despite belonging to the rival Congress camp always stood by her side in her efforts to the formation of a grand alliance.

'' Despite our political differences I always held him in very high esteem and even was with him during his admission to the nursing home,'' Ms Banerjee said and regretted her inability to join in his last rites because of her pre-occupation.

Among others who also visited the nursing home and paid rich tributes to the veteran leader are Former Chief minister and party leader Siddhartha Shankar Ray, PCC Vice-President Pradip Bhattacharya, Mr Somen Mitra and state Transport minister Subhas Chakraborty besides his party colleagues like Mr Robin Deb, Mohammad Salim besides CPI state Secretary Manju Kumar Majumdar.

They all described Mr Khan Choudhury's death as an ''irreparable loss'' to the state politics.

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