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More tributes pour in for Prasada

Senior Congress leaders based in New Delhi, including those not enamoured by deceased Congress leader Jitendra Prasada, continued paying glowing tributes to him minutes before his body was driven away to Shajahanpur in Uttar Pradesh for cremation.

"It is true that Prasada was a leader of rare perseverance. We have always maintained that any development in our party is a family matter. It is only natural if Prasada contested the presidential poll against our party chief Sonia Gandhi. Victory and defeat is part and parcel of the game. Yet all this did not prevent a section of the media from carrying on fantastic speculation that the Congress was crumbling. Prasada was a devoted and committed Congressman who served in various capacities in the party. He was a good friend, pleasant to talk to but simultaneously concerned about the party's problems. His loss is irreparable. We will continue to miss him," said Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and former central party spokesman Ajit Jogi.

Prasada acolyte and Congress parliamentarian from Rampur Lok Sabha Begum Noor Bano constituency declined comment on the departed leader. She, however, moved about briskly at the All India Congress Committee premises, cautioning Prasada's followers to carry his flower-bedecked body carefully back to the truck.

The body was laid at the AICC conference room, where party leaders paid floral tributes.

Prasada's followers carried the body back to the truck after half an hour (it was brought to the AICC at 1050 hours) as slogan-shouting supporters prepared to leave for the final destination - Shajahanpur.

Prasada's son Jiten silently accepted condolences, as he sat in the truck beside the body.

"Jabtak sooraj chand rahega, Jitendra Prasada tera naam rahega," his 50-odd supporters shouted as Congress leaders folded hands in a final farewell.

Also present were those for who it was more a ' politically correct statement' rather than a gesture of grief.

"I have worked with him for long. Those who knew him cannot but admire his conviction in his beliefs. I was especially friendly with Prasadasahib when he was political secretary to former prime minister Narasimha Raoji. He did not hesitate when he felt that it was time for him to leave as political secretary. He was not afraid of having his say, even when it would be politically unsuitable for many in our party," said senior leader Sushil Kumar Shinde with a twinge of sadness.

Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Madhavrao Scindia described Prasada's death as a "grievous loss" and pointed out that the "party will certainly miss him". He said Prasada had contributed ''constructively by participating in debates and discussions'' and was ''a very admirable character''.

On whether Prasada had reconciled to his defeat and rejoined the party's political mainstream, Scindia said, "This is not the occasion to discuss this."

In a refreshingly simple comment, senior party leader Oscar Fernandes emphasised that "no matter what I say, it will not sufficiently describe Prasadaji as a committed leader of our party. Hats off to him."

Former party treasurer and senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel was busy with preparations for the journey to Shajahanpur.

Ambika Soni, Jagdish Tytler and Sheila Dikshit, the Delhi chief minister, echoed their colleagues' comments.

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