JOIN USBoth Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day following death of senior Congress leader and Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in Chennai on Tuesday.
“I have to inform with great grief that my colleague Vilasrao Deshmukh has passed away. It will not be appropriate to continue the proceedings of the House," Leader of the House and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said in a choking voice on receiving the information while the members in the Lok Sabha were discussing the issue of increase in left-wing extremist activities in the country.
Senior BJP leader L K Advani, who was then present in the Lower House, expressed grief over the Congress leader’s demise and urged the members to accept Shinde’s suggestion following which the chair adjourned the Lok Sabha for the day.
The Rajya Sabha was also immediately adjourned after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal informed the House about the death of Deshmukh.
Condolences pour in
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, too, expressed condolences over Deshmukh’s death. Kerala Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, expressed grief over the death of Deshmukh.In a message, Chandy said Deshmukh had made great contribution to the growth of Congress party in Maharashtra.