President, VP, PM condole Kanshi Ram's death

New Delhi, Oct 9 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today led the nation in mourning the death of ''Messiah of the down-trodden'' and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Kanshi Ram.

Leaders across the political spectrum thronged the 11, Humayun Road residence of BSP chief Mayawati to pay their last respects to the founder of the party who breathed his last early this morning following a cerebral stroke.

Prominent among those who visited the residence of Ms Mayawati where Mr Kanshi Ram had been living after a long spell in hospital were Congress president Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ramvilas Paswan, Railways Minister Lalu Prasad, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, former Prime Minister V P Singh, BJP leaders L K Advani, Arun Jaitley, Kalraj Mishra and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and JD(U) leader George Fernandes.

President Kalam said in a message that 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 the poor and the deprived of the country had lost one of the great saviors.

''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 Mr Kanshiram.

The Prime Minister, while expressing deep grief described Kanshi Ram as ''one of the greatest social reformers of our time'' whose political ideas and movements had a significant impact on the country's political evolution.

He had a larger understanding of social change and was able to unite various underprivileged sections of our society and provide a political platform where their voices would be heard, the Prime Minister said.

He said Kanshi Ram's loss would be deeply felt by the nation and by the millions of his followers all over the country, who were inspired by his enlightened ideas on bringing about social equity and justice in the country.

''I have no doubt that the legacy of his social and political philosophy will continue to guide the political class in the future,'' Dr Singh said.

The Prime Minister, who left for UK and Finland on a five-da official visit, also went to the residence of Ms. Mayawati to pay tributes to the departed leader before embarking on his tour.

Ms Gandhi, who came along with son Rahul Gandhi XXX Eds picking up from Third Para of DI 41, Kanshi Ram-Tributes.

UNI RB AK KN1820