Vice Prez, PM pay tributes to Basu

New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) Indian Vice President Hamid
Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday paid
tributes to Marxist legend Jyoti Basu, whom they described as
a great patriot and an eminent statesman.
Both Ansari and Singh visited the AKG Bhawan, the CPM
Headquarters at Gole Market here, separately at around 11 am
and paid floral tribute to the departed leader.
They were received by Communist Party of India-Marxist
CPI(M) Politburo members Sitaram Yechury and K Varadrajan.
Ansari wrote in the condolence book, "the country
mourns the passing away of a patriot and a great statesman."
Singh, in his remarks, said the country has lost "a
great son who was a great statesman and great patriot."
"I convey my deepest condolences to the members of the
bereaved family and countless admirers, comrades and followers
of Shri Basu," the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister told CPI(M) leaders that he will
not be able to go to Kolkata due to his official
preoccupations Tuesday, a senior party leader said.
Union Ministers A K Antony and S M Krishna also
visited the CPI(M) headquarters to offer their condolences.
Defence Minister Antony said the departed leader's
guidance was useful for him.
"I was the Chief Minister of Kerala in 1977 while he
was the Chief Minister in Bengal. I know him very intimately.
He was a unique person who gave correct directions to find
solutions to problems. His guidance was useful for me," he
said.
Krishna said, "Basu became a legend in his life time.
He was a leader with a vision who always thought of the have
nots. He is one of the tallest leader of the country and in
his demise, we are poorer for that."
Janata Dal-United JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav and envoys
of Sri Lanka, North Korea, China and Russia also visited the
CPI(M) headquarters to pay tributes to the Left leader. PTI
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