Senior leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) were among the first to visit Kolkata's Belle View Clinic after former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee passed away at the health facility on Monday morning.
CPI(M) Lok Sabha MP Mohd. Salim, senior leader Shyamal Chakraborty and Rabin Deb were among others who visited the hospital on Monday morning.
"He was not in touch with the party in the last few years but that does not matter, he was above the party. The role he played in parliamentary democracy and for secular and democratic forces cannot be seen in context of a party...Even after giving up his responsibilities, he stood for secular and democratic forces. It is an irreparable loss for us," CPI(M) State Secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra said. On whether the party, which expelled him in 2008 will offer a formal tribute to the veteran parliamentarian, Dr Mishra said that they are trying to reach out his family. The ten time Lok Sabha MP had joined the CPI(M) in 1968 and was elected to Lok Sabha for the first time in 1971.
Left Front chairperson Biman Basu said that Mr. Chatterjee was a rational voice in parliamentary democracy and spoke for the people.
"When I met him after he was expelled from the party, he broke down. He had grievances against the party but did not say a single word against the party," Shyamal Chakraborty, who heads the labour wing of CPI(M) in West Bengal said.
Buasudev Acharya, another veteran parliamentarian from the CPI(M) said that the passing away of Mr. Chatterjee at a time when democratic institutions are under attack and Parliament is being bypassed is a great loss to parliamentary democracy. The other constituents of the Left front also paid tributes to the departed leader.
Leader of Revolutionary Socialist Party ( RSP) Kshiti Goswami said that his death was an irreparable loss of the Left movement in the country and other than being an exceptional parliamentarian and Speaker, he was a large-hearted man who was helpful.
Final journey
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also reached the hospital and spoke to the family members about his final journal. The body of the departed leader is likely to be taken out of the hospital at 12.00 hours. It will be taken to Calcutta High Court, and West Bengal Legislative Assembly before being taken to his residence on Basanta Roy Road in south Kolkata.
