Pall of gloom in Chandrashekhar's home town

Ballia, July 9 (UNI) The home district of former prime minister Chandrashekhar continued to mourn the demise of the octogenarian leader.

Chandrashekhar -- the 11th Prime Minister of the country from November 10, 1990 to June 21, 1991 -- died at the Apollo Hospital in New Delhi, where he was undergoing treatment for Multiple Myeloma for the past three months.

Born on July 1, 1927, in a farmer's family in village Ibrahimpatti here, the former Prime Minister was known as a fire-brand idealist with revolutionary fervour since his early days in politics.

To pay homage to the former socialist, the traders downed their shutters and all schools and colleges were closed. The national flag at various central and state offices was lowered to pay rich tributes to the 'Young Turk'.

Even the 'paan' and tea shops remained closed. Streets remained deserted.

Nagar Palika President Sanjay Upadhaye said, ''it is not easy to forget a leader of a great calibre like Chandrashekharji. People will take time to overcome such a great loss to the country.'' UNI