Source: The Sangai Express / PTI
New Delhi, August 01:
Harkishan Singh Surjeet, the pragmatic Marxist leader, who played a key role in keeping BJP out of power in 1996 and helped Congress form a coalition government at the Centre eight years later, died here today after prolonged illness.
92-year-old Surjeet, who was convalescing at the Metro Hospital in nearby Noida since July 25, breathed his last at 1335 hours, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat told PTI.
The former party General Secretary was earlier admitted to the hospital on May six following a severe cardiac arrest and slipped into coma on May 16.He fought back and was discharged on June three.
Leaders across party lines condole Surjeet's death : A host of leaders from across the political spectrum, including Congress President Sonia Gandhi, today condoled the death of veteran Marxist Harkishan Singh Surjeet and hailed his contribution to Indian politics.
In a condolence message, Gandhi said Surjeet's death was a loss not only to the Communist movement but to the entire country.
Describing his death as a personal loss to him, Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) Chief Ram Vilas Paswan said, "Surjeet was a trouble-shooter at times of crisis.
"He was a veteran secular leader and his death is a jolt to secular forces," he said noting that he had a 30-year long association with the Marxist leader.
Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, CPI(M) leaders Prakash Karat, Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat reached the Metro hospital, where Surjeet was admitted, and paid tributes to the departed leader.
"Surjeet had made significant contribution to the evolution of Indian politics and the Communist movement in India.
He would be missed dearly," Yechury told reporters.
Former Prime Minister I K Gujral paid floral tributes to the Surjeet's portrait at the CPI(M) office here and said it was a "grievous loss of a life-long friend".