SP chief Mulayam Singh recalls Nelson Mandela's Lucknow visit

, Dec 6: Samajwadi Party chief

recalled

's visit to Lucknow. "He said he wanted to go for a boat ride in Kashi (Varanasi). We spent a day together in Lucknow and Varanasi," Yadav recalled.

He said while Mahatma Gandhi was a model for Mandela, the South African leader will also be a model for coming generations as he fought against injustice and inequality.

Mandela was living symbol of his people's quest for freedom and dignity: Mulayam

Dara Singh Chauhan (BSP) said it is a coincidence that Mandela died on a day when the nation is observing the death anniversary of B R Ambedkar. He said the two followed same principles. JD(U) President Sharad Yadav said during his visit to India, when Mandela supported Mandal Commission recommendations, media projected a perception that he was more of a "liability" than a guest.

He said till social injustice and inequality remain in India, the country cannot prosper. Basudeb Acharia (CPI-M) described him as "leader of the exploited masses" and recalled his visit to Kolkata. Saugata Roy (Trinamool), TKS Elangovan (DMK), B Mahtab (BJD), Sanjeev Naik (NCP), M Thambidurai (AIADMK), Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) and Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (RJD) also condoled Mandela's demise.

In the Rajya Sabha, Ansari said, "As an anti-apartheid revolutionary, he was convicted to life imprisonment in 1964 and was released in 1990. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi in his long walk and struggle against apartheid, he along with other leaders organised mass boycotts especially against the laws supporting racial discrimination and oppression... Mandela was a living symbol of his people's quest for freedom and dignity against tyranny and injustice. While his courage, determination and sacrifice inspired millions of people during the anti-apartheid movement, his message of peace, forgiveness and reconciliation thereafter, united them and led the rainbow nation on the path to peace and progress," he said.

PTI