Top political personalities in Chhattisgarh have termed the death of VC Shukla on Tuesday as ‘end of an era’ as majority of leaders in Central India cutting across party line learnt the ‘ABC’ of politics from the leader who spent about 60 years in active politics and represented Congress for nine times in lok Sabha starting from 1957 at the age of 28.
Shukla had received multiple-bullet shots on May 25 when a convoy of Congress party was ambushed in Bastar region by Maoist militants. He died at the age of 84 and was survived by his wife and three daughters.
Chhattisgarh’s ruling BJP has declared a three-day State mourning as a mark of respect to a great son and seasoned politician of Chhattisgarh.
Condoling the death of ‘Vidya Bhaiya’ as Shukla was called in political circle, Governor Shekhar Dutt said that with his demise an era has ended on Tuesday as the veteran Congress leader served state as well as nation for 60 long years in different capacities. In the creation of Chhattisgarh too he played important role, the Governor recalled.
Expressing profound grief at his death, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh said that with the demise of Shukla the state suffered a great loss as in this crucial time Chhattisgarh polity was in great need of his political acumen and statesmanship.
All India Congress Committee Treasurer and senior Congress leader of Chhattisgarh Motilal Vora said “It was a great shock for him as well as the party, a loss which can hardly be expressed in words.” leader of Congress
legislature party Ravindra Choubey termed the departure of ‘Vidya Bhaiya’ untimely and irreparable loss for the party as well as people of Chhattisgarh.
Expressing profound grief over the demise of Shukla, former chief minister and senior Congress leader Ajit Jogi said “Not only Chhattisgarh but the nation lost a great leader. Filling the vacuum created by his death is impossible.” Terming him as martyr, Jogi said even the bullets of Maoist insurgents could not deter him from fighting for people.
Chhattisgarh Congress’ acting president Charandas Mahant who is a minister of state in Central Government also termed it ‘a great loss for the party as well as people as the veteran leader was tirelessly working for the poor and the deprived till his last breathe’.
Congress general secretary Devbrat Singh condoled the death of Shukla, saying: “He was a father figure of the Indian politics and with his demise an era of Indian democracy ended.” Even at the age of 84 Vidya Bhaiya was fighting for democratic values and trying to win back tribal sections of the society to align them in to main stream.
Senior BJP leader in Chhattisgarh Brijmohan Agrawal who is also a minister in state government, termed the demise a great loss for the state and the nation, saying Vidya Bhaiya was a political personality in himself and was popular among masses. BJP Member of Parliament Dilip Singh Judeo, Agriculture minister Chandra Shekhar Sahu, Congress MlA Dharamjit Singh, formers minister Bhupesh Baghel, former state minister Vidhan Mishra and a host of others also condoled the death of V C Shukla.
VC Shukla’s dead body would be kept at the Chhattisgarh Congress headquarters — Gandhi Bhawan — on Wednesday for final view of his supporters and Congressmen. A galaxy of top Congressmen across nation are expected to attend his last rites on Wednesday evening.