BJP leaders pay tribute to former Vice President Shekhawat

Jaipur (Rajasthan), May 16 (ANI): Senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday paid their tributes to former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who passed away at the Sawai Man Singh Hospital here on Saturday.

Thousands of people, including senior politicians bid a tearful adieu to Shekhawat as his funeral procession began from his home, and passed through key areas of the city.

BJP leaders Lal Krishna Advani, Arun Jaitley, Narendra Modi along with party president Nitin Gadkari, attended the ceremony.

"Good governance, honest governance and people's welfare are the qualities for which Shekhawat will be remembered always," said Advani.

"With Shekhawat's death, we have lost a base. Certainly it is a loss to our party and country as well. I want to say that the scheme to improve the condition of the below poverty line people envisaged by him has been taken up by the party," said Gadkari.

Shekhawat was cremated with full state honours at Chandpole Cremation ground here.he Rajasthan state Cabinet on Saturday announced a state mourning for a period of three days.

Shekhawat was admitted to the ICU of the Sawai Man Singh Hospital on May 13 after he complained of uneasiness and breathing trouble.

Born on October 23, 1923, Shekhawat was the 11th Vice-President of India.

He served in that position from August 2002. He was elected for a five-year term by the electoral college following the death of Krishan Kant and resigned on July 21, 2007 after losing the presidential election to Pratibha Patil.

He served as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan thrice from 1977 to 1980, 1990 to 1992, and 1993 to 1998. (ANI)