By IANS
New Delhi : The tributes were rich and heartfelt Sunday as leaders across the political spectrum condoled the death of former prime minister Chandra Shekhar and expressed their anguish over a void that would be "difficult to fill".
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had visited the ailing leader Saturday night, shortly before the former prime minister passed away after a long battle with bone cancer, recalled his rich political and administrative acumen: "He steered the ship of our nation and economy through stormy waters with statesmanship and wisdom."
"He was not afraid of taking unpopular decisions if these were in the larger national interest and served the nation in the long term," said the prime minister, who served as economic adviser to Chandra Shekhar.
Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said of the man, who ruled the country for a brief seven months in 1990-91 but was considered one of the country's most respected politicians: "He always lived on his own terms in politics and spoke fearlessly against injustice. The best example of this was how he opposed his own leader (late prime minister Indira Gandhi) during emergency."
"The country has lost a great politician and I have lost a personal friend who stood my me and always addressed me as Gurudev," Vajpayee said.
Another former prime minister Inder Kumar Gujral said: "The contribution he made to our political life will be remembered. I have lost a very close friend."
Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee called Chandra Shekhar "a very respected friend, a long time colleague in parliament and a great leader".
Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, who locked swords with Chandra Shekhar during V.P. Singh's years as prime minister, said he rode the Indian political scenario for five decades like a colossus.
"He was a great fighter who rose to the highest position from the freedom struggle. He never compromised on his ideology," Paswan recalled.
Recalling Chandra Shekhar's brief visit to Nepal during emergency, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) general secretary and spokesperson Debiprasad Tripathi said: "He actively supported the people's movement in Nepal. Many leaders from Nepal, including those from the Maoist party, called me up to convey their regret at Chandra Shekhar's death. Some have informed me that they will be here for his funeral and last rites."
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury said: "Chandra Shekhar made a big contribution to Indian politics, played a major role for decades in shaping the Indian political scene."