Basu, a tireless crusader against communalism: Sonia Gandhi

New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI) Congress President Sonia Gandhi
on Sunday described Marxist veteran Jyoti Basu as a towering
figure on the national scene, a tireless crusader against
communalism and all sorts of obscurantism and a true patriot
who always put the national interest above everything else.

In a letter addressed to Chandan Basu, the son of the
CPI(M) leader, Gandhi also struck a personal note saying, "I
have the warmest memories of our many meetings --- of his
charm and grace and deep humanity....At this time of grief my
thoughts are with you and your family."
She also said that she, her husband late Rajiv Gandhi and
her mother-in-law late Indira Gandhi (both former Prime
Ministers) always held Basu in high esteem.
Gandhi, who is also the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)
Chairperson, recalled Basu's contribution to the formation of
the UPA government with Left support in 2004.
"He contributed to the formation of UPA government in
2004 and we continued to count on him for his wise counsel
even after he retired from political life," she said adding
that not just the people of West Bengal and his millions of
political followers, but the entire nation is in mourning.
"He was a tireless crusader against communalism,
fundamentalism, casteism and all kinds of the obscurantism, a
warrior for social justice and equality and for eradication of
poverty, a true patriot, who always kept the national interest
above all else. He was a towering figure in our national life,
whose noble vision, superb judgement and depth of experience
we all valued greatly," she said. (MORE) PTI AMR
AHM


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