New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday led the nation in mourning the death of Somnath Chatterjee, the former Lok Sabha speaker and one of India’s most respected parliamentarians.
“Sorry to hear of the passing of Somnath Chatterjee, former Speaker of the Lok Sabha and a veteran parliamentarian who had a forceful presence in the House. A loss for public life in Bengal and India. My condolences to his family and innumerable well-wishers,” the President said in a tweet.
Prime Minister Modi described Chatterjee as a stalwart of Indian politics who he said made the parliamentary democracy richer.
Modi tweeted that Chatterjee “was a strong voice for the well-being of the poor and vulnerable. Anguished by his demise. My thoughts are with his family and supporters”.
Somnath Chatterjee died at 8:15am at the Belle Vue Clinic in Kolkata following a cardiac arrest and prolonged age-related ailments. The 10-time parliamentarian was admitted to the clinic on June 28.