Chandrashekhar had the guts to sail against the tide: Deshmukh

Mumbai, July 13 (UNI) Former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar was deeply rooted in socialist values and had the guts to sail against the tide, said Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh at a condolence meeting to mourn the passing of the late leader.

Mr Deshmukh said Chandrashekhar had a short but eventful tenure as the Prime Minister. ''His leadership was a perfect example of how to run the country's affairs amid turmoil. As a Young Turk in the Congress, he always took a stand against established policies and worked tirelessly to ensure that the policies are beneficial to the common people,''he added.

The Chief Minister said Chandrashekhar never compromised on his principles. ''Uttar Pradesh has seen several political permutations and combinations, but his bastion of Balia remained strong as ever in his support,'' he said.

Mr Deshmukh recalled that even after relinquishing the post of the Prime Minister, Chandrashekhar was an effective parliamentarian and had even won the Best Parliamentarian award in 1995.

Describing Chandrashekhar as a multi faceted personality, Mr Deshmukh said his death had created a vaccum in the political arena. ''We have to ensure that his ideals of social justice do not die and that would be a true tribute to him,'' he added.

Mr Bharat Kumar Raut, editor of Maharashtra Times said that in the present day politics, there was lack of dialogue and communication.

''Everyone is talking and nobody is listening. Chandrashekhar always strived to initiate a dialogue in politics,'' he recalled.

Mr Raut said he came into contact with the late leader during his Bharat Yatra's Maharashtra leg. ''I found out that the samajwad in him was genuine and strong. He joined the Congress when being a socialist was a fashion statement and left the Congress to revive the movement when it was waning,''he said.

Ramdas Athavale, Lok Sabha MP, recalled that Chandrashekhar had supported the Marathwada University renaming after Dr B R Ambedkar.

Noted lawyer and NCP leader Majid Memon and Dr Shanti Patel, a close associate of Chandrashekhar, while mourning his demise, remembered him as a true secular nationalistic.

UNI