Both Houses adjourned after tributes to Chandra Shekhar

New Delhi, Aug 10 (UNI) Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned on the first day of the Monsoon session after paying tributes to former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar and other members who died during inter-session.

The Lok Sabha observed a two-minute silence after Speaker Somnath Chatterjee read out tributes to the socialist stalwart, who died last month after a long illness.

Describing Chandra Shekhar a secular nationalist, the Speaker said in his demise the nation had lost an eminent parliamentarian, an able administrator and a statesman. Also popularly known as the ' Young Turk', Chandra Shekhar was also hailed as an icon for the youth by the Speaker, who also took notice of his Bharat Yatra from Kanniyakumari to Rajghat.

Mr Chatterjee also hailed him as a man of strong principles.

In Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairperson K Rehman Khan read out a tribute to the late leader describing him as an eminent Parliamentarian, a socialist by conviction, a devoted social worker and an able administrator.

He said the former Prime Minister served both Houses of Parliament and impressed all by his oratorical skills. ''He was always heard with rapt attention whenever he spoke in the House,'' said Mr Rehman.

He was also associated with many social and cultural institutions, said the Deputy Chairperson.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also present in the House.

The Lok Sabha also paid homage also paid to sitting member Ajit Kumar Singh,and five former members. They were -- Krishan Chander Haldhar (7th Lok Sabha), Chanderjit Yadav (10th LS), T Nagarattnam (11th LS), Sahib Singh Verma (13th LS) and Bharat Singh Chauhan (6th LS).

Earlier, the Speaker sworn in Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal (BJP) as a member the 14th Lok Sabha. Mr Dhumal, former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister,won Hamirpur Parliamentary byelection.

UNI