New Delhi, Jul 20 (UNI) The Nation mourned the demise of former three-time chief minister of Delhi and veteran Indian National Congress leader Sheila Dikshit on Saturday evening.
The 81-year-old Congress stalwart passed away at a private hospital in National Capital after suffering a cardiac arrest.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice-President Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences.
“Her term in office was a period of momentous transformation for the capital for which she will be remembered. Condolences to her family and associates,” the President wrote in a tweet.
In his condolence message, Mr Naidu said she was a good administrator.
Inspite of being a politician, Sheila Dikshit gave prime importance to human sentiments, the Lok Sabha Speaker said.
The Prime Minister said she was a warm and affable personality. She made a noteworthy contribution to Delhi’s development, Mr Modi said in a tweet.
Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said the country had lost a great administrator and an outstanding leader who contributed enormously to Delhi’s development.
In a condolence letter to her son Sandeep Dikshit, Dr Singh said that it was their deep affection for her that resulted in her leading the Congress to three consecutive victories in the assembly elections in Delhi.
Chief Minister of Delhi and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal said the people of Delhi will always remember the contribution of Sheila Dikshit and the void left by her can never be filled.
“Though we were political rivals and our views were opposite on many issues, I found Dikshit to be warm and an affectionate person whenever we met. I came to know about her health concerns last year, when she had written to the Delhi government about her surgery requirements abroad, which was successful, but I could never imagine that she would leave us so soon. People of Delhi will always remember the contribution of late Sheila Dikshit ji and the void left by her can never be filled,” he asserted.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, known to have close bond with Diskshit, said he was devastated to hear about the demise of 'beloved daughter' of the Congress party.
'I am devastated to hear about the passing away of Sheila Dikshit Ji, a beloved daughter of the Congress Party, with whom I shared a close personal bond. My condolences to her family and the citizens of Delhi, whom she served selflessly as a three term Chief Minister, in this time of great grief", Mr Gandhi tweeted.
Senior Congress leader and close confidant of Dikshit, Ajay Maken said, “Hard to believe-My mentor and a mother like figure to me Sheila Dikshit ji is no more.Delhi can never forget her contribution I will always thankfully remember the way she groomed me as a young politician and granted me valuable learning experience under her guidance”.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “She was a tall Congress leader known for her congenial nature. Sheilaji was widely respected cutting across party lines.”
Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, “We were opponents in politics but friends in personal life. She was a fine human being.”
Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said her contribution to Delhi's development will always be remembered.
BJP president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Railway and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal were among the many others who expressed their condolence.
The Delhi Government has declared a two-day state mourning.
UNI Team PS SHK2102