Former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee passed away on Monday, 13 August at a Kolkata hospital. He was 89 years old.
He passed away at 8:15 am, reported IANS.
“He made our Parliamentary democracy richer and was a strong voice for the well-being of the poor and vulnerable,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet offering condolences to Chatterjee's family.
Former MP and Speaker Shri Somnath Chatterjee was a stalwart of Indian politics. He made our Parliamentary democracy richer and was a strong voice for the well-being of the poor and vulnerable. Anguished by his demise. My thoughts are with his family and supporters.
President Ram Nath Kovind too expressed grief over Somnath Chatterjee's death.
Sorry to hear of the passing of Shri Somnath Chatterjee, former Speaker of the Lok Sabha and a veteran parliamentarian who had a forceful presence in the House. A loss for public life in Bengal and India. My condolences to his family and innumerable well-wishers #PresidentKovind
Congress President Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to condole Chatterjee's death. In a tweet, Gandhi said, “He (Somnath Chatterjee) was an institution. Greatly respected and admired by all parliamentarians, across party lines.”
I mourn the passing away of Shri Somnath Chatterjee, 10 term MP and former Speaker of the Lok Sabha. He was an institution. Greatly respected and admired by all parliamentarians, across party lines. My condolences to his family at this time of grief. #SomnathChatterjee
Calling Chatterjee an outstanding parliamentarian, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu condoled Chatterjee's death.
Saddened by the demise of former Lok Sabha Speaker, Shri Somnath Chatterjee. He was an outstanding Parliamentarian, who was elected to Lok Sabha 10 times. He was always affable and highlighted people's problems. He firmly stood by the principles he believed in. #Parliament pic.twitter.com/0YLXQByrPH
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in his tweet expressed grief over the demise of the former Lok Sabha speaker.
Extremely sad news about Somnath Chatterjee ji. One of the greatest parliamentarians of contemporary times he will always be missed by this country. He will be remembered among the greatest Lok Sabha Speakers India ever had. https://t.co/dpnsE9ME1a
Chatterjee's Condition Deteriorated on Sunday
Chatterjee was put on life support after he suffered a heart attack, but was "stable", an official of the private hospital told PTI on Sunday, 12 August.
"He is undergoing dialysis. In such cases it happens at times that the heart stops giving support,” the official added.
Chatterjee had suffered a mild heart attack on Sunday morning, but was revived. He was in the ICCU and was reported as “stable and responding to treatment but still on ventilation.”
In June, the former Lok-Sabha speaker was admitted to the critical care wing of the hospital, following a hemorrhagic stroke, which recovered from. His health declined again on 10 August and he had to be readmitted in the hospital.
Chatterjee was the Speaker of the Lower House from 2004-09 when Manmohan Singh-led UPA- 1 (United Progressive Alliance) was in power.
In 2008, he was expelled from the CPI(M) for not resigning as the Speaker after Left parties withdrew support from the UPA-1 government over the Indo-US nuclear deal.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
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