Leaders across party line mourn Kanshi Ram's demise

New Delhi, Oct 9 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today led the nation in mourning the death of Bahujan Samaj Party founder Kanshi Ram who worked tirelesly to uplift the backward classes and the downtrodden throughout his life.

Kanshi Ram breathed his last early this morning following a heart attack.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh mourned the death of Kanshi Ram and said he was an important voice of Dalits.

The Prime Minister, who left for UK and Finland on a five-da official tour, visited 11, Humayun Road residence of Bahujan SamajParty party chief Mayawati to pay tributes to the departed leader before embarking on his tour.

President Kalam in a message said Kanshi Ram played an important role in the post-independence India for the rights of the under-provileged and spoke for them and for their self-respect and honour.

''In his passing away, the nation has lost a public leader who always had the interest of the down-trodden close to his heart,'' he said.

Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat while expressing shock at the death of Kanshi Ram said, ''His death is an irreparable loss to the political and social life of the whole nation,'' said Mr Shekhawat who went to the Nigambodh Ghat and offered floral tributes at the mortal remains of Kanshi Ram.

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee too expressed deep sorrow at the death of BSP leader Kanshi Ram.

''Shri Kanshi Ram took up the cause of the welfare of the people belonging to the socially oppressed sections to which he gave a strong identity as the bahujan samaj,'' Mr Chatterjee said in his condolence message to the bereaved family.

A battery of leaders including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Union Chemical and Fertilizers Minister Ramvilas Paswan, Union Railways Minister Lalu Prasad, thronged the 11, Humayun Road, where Kanshi Ram had been staying after he was discharged from the hospital, to pay their last respects to the departed leader.

BJP leaders L K Advani, Arun Jaitley, Kalraj Mishra and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and JD(U) leader George Fernandes also paid their tributes to the deceased soul.

Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav said Kanshi Ram dedicated his entire life to uplift the Dalit community so that they could be brought into the mainstream.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad recalled the departed leader's services to the nation and said his death has created a vacuum which is difficult to fill.

MORE UNI TEAM AK PM1824