Paswan, Sharad Yadav remember Shekhawat as a person beyond politics

New Delhi, May 15 (ANI): As former Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat passed away on Saturday morning, a wave of sorrow overwhelmed the political leaders in the country.

In New Delhi, Lok Janashakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan described Shekhawat as a person who always thought about the benefit of the country.

"Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was one of those rare leaders who rose from politics and thought about the benefit of the nation. The nations benefit is the first priority after that it's the parties benefit and then it's the persons benefit and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat proved this," Paswan said.

Janata Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav described his death as the demise of a "huge personality".

"His death is the death of a huge personality. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was a leader who understood the country. He often told me in discussions that no matter one studies in any college or university a person who is not born in a village will never be able to understand India," Yadav said.

Shekhawat was the 11th Vice President of India.

He was a member of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and served as the chief of Rajasthan state for three tenures in 1977, 1990 and 1993.

The funeral would take place on Sunday (May16) around 10 a.m (local time) at Chandpole Cremation ground in Jaipur.

Shekhawat had unsuccessfully contested the 2007 presidential elections against the current President Pratibha Devisingh Patil.

Eighty seven-year-old Bhairon Singh Shekhawat breathed his last in Jaipur, following illness due to lung infection. He was admitted to the Sawai Man Singh Hospital on Thursday (May 13) after he complained of respiratory problems. (ANI)