President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi led the nation in mourning the death of former Kerala Chief Minister K. Karunakaran, hailing him as a “visionary” leader and a “true patriot.”
The Prime Minister will attend Mr. Karunakaran's funeral in Thrissur on Saturday, an official said tonight.
In her condolence message, Ms. Patil said the nation has lost the “longest serving public figure and a visionary. The nation has lost a personality who was always in touch with grassroots,” she added.
Vice President Hamid Ansari noted that Mr. Karunakaran had a significant record of service to the country and especially to Kerala during his many years in public life.
The Prime Minister said Mr. Karunakaran was a true patriot who served the country and Kerala with deep commitment and untiring zeal in a public career spanning more than six decades.
Dr. Singh said he had the privilege of benefitting from Mr. Karunakaran's wisdom and experience many times. “He was generous with his advice, which was always sagacious,” he said, adding the former Chief Minister was widely respected for his qualities of head and heart.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi said the party has lost a national leader who was a voice of secularism and national integrity. “In his death, the Congress has lost not only a great leader from Kerala but also a national leader who was a voice for secularism and national integrity. In his death, the party has lost a great leader whose absence will be deeply felt by all Congressmen across the country,” Ms. Gandhi said in her condolence message.
External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said Mr. Karunakaran was a political stalwart and “tall” leader of the Congress who served the nation with distinction and acumen.
Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said Mr. Karunakaran would be remembered for his “kind-heartedness and his down-to-earth behaviour.”
Union Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily said Mr. Karunakaran was his “great well-wisher” and the demise of the veteran leader has “shocked” him. — PTI
Karunanidhi expresses shock
Staff Reporter reports from Chennai:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Thursday expressed shock and deep anguish over the demise of Mr. Karunakaran.
Terming the veteran leader as one who struggled for the welfare of the working classes, the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam president said that his death was a loss not only to Kerala, but to the entire nation.
Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala conveyed his condolences.
