Party lines blurred on Sunday as leaders from across the political spectrum condoled the death of former Delhi Chief Minister and former Rajasthan Governor Madan Lal Khurana, who passed away at his home in west Delhi’s Kirti Nagar at 11 p.m. on Saturday. He was 83.
The Delhi government has announced two days of State mourning as a mark of respect to the senior BJP leader.
The last journey of Mr. Khurana — under whose watch the saffron party’s base expanded across the city during its transformation into the BJP from the Jana Sangh — started from his residence at 11 a.m. The procession reached the BJP Delhi Pradesh office at 14 Pt. Pant Marg at noon.
BJP patriarch L.K. Advani, Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Ministers Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Harsh Vardhan, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Vijay Goel were among the dignitaries who paid homage to Mr. Khurana.
The last rites were performed at the Nigambodh Ghat in north Delhi.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Environment Minister Imran Hussain represented the Delhi government at the solemn occasion.
Mr. Advani said Mr. Khurana had dedicated his life to the service of the people and his “mere presence was enough to compel government officers to solve the problems of the people”.
Mr. Khurana was the Chief Minister of Delhi from December 2, 1993 to February 26, 1996.
Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said Mr. Khurana’s contribution to the expansion of the party and raising the problems of the people was “unparalleled”.
Extremely saddened: CM
In his condolence message, Mr. Kejriwal said: “Extremely saddened to know about the sudden demise of Madan Lal Khurana... May his soul rest in peace.”
Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken said the citizens of the Capital would always recall Mr. Khurana’s role in Delhi’s development. “In addition to being a tall leader of the BJP, Mr. Khurana was a better human being. He was a bold leader who never minced his words and always practised issue-based politics,” Mr. Maken said.
