'Irreparable Loss' Says PM Modi as Politicians Pay Last Respects to Kalyan Singh

Former UP Chief Minister Kalyan Singh breathed his last in Lucknow on Saturday, 20 August.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath, and several other top leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) paid last respects to former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP veteran Kalyan Singh, who breathed his last on Saturday, 21 August, in Lucknow.

"India has lost a capable leader and we will do everything in our capacity to keep his values and resolutions alive," PM Modi said, while speaking to the media.

He also took to Twitter and offered condolences to Singh's family and supporters. "Kalyan Singh ji was the owner of a great personality along with being a great politician and an efficient administrator associated with the land," PM Modi wrote.

दुख की इस घड़ी में मेरे पास शब्द नहीं हैं। कल्याण सिंह जी जमीन से जुड़े बड़े राजनेता और कुशल प्रशासक होने के साथ-साथ एक महान व्यक्तित्व के स्वामी थे। उत्तर प्रदेश के विकास में उनका योगदान अमिट है। शोक की इस घड़ी में उनके परिजनों और समर्थकों के प्रति मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएं। ओम शांति! pic.twitter.com/Z3fq49n1yE

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 21, 2021

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who arrived at Kalyan Singh's residence to pay tributes also said that the latter's death is an "irreparable loss to Indian politics".

Paid my last respects to Kalyan Singh ji in Lucknow today. His demise is an irreparable loss to Indian politics. My heartfelt tributes to him. pic.twitter.com/o4GboH5xCr

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 22, 2021

Leaders Across Party Lines Pay Tributes

Among other politicians who mourned the demise of the former UP chief minister are Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party President, Mayawati.

भाजपा के कद्दावर नेता व उत्तर प्रदेश के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री एवं राजस्थान के पूर्व राज्यपाल रहे श्री कल्याण सिंह के निधन की खबर अति-दुःखद। उनके परिवार व समर्थकों आदि के प्रति मेरी गहरी संवेदना। कुदरत उन सबको इस दुःख को सहन करने की शक्ति प्रदान करे।

— Mayawati (@Mayawati) August 21, 2021

उत्तर प्रदेश के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री, राजस्थान के पूर्व राज्यपाल श्री कल्याण सिंह जी का निधन हृदय विदारक!

दिवंगत आत्मा को शांति एवं शोक संतप्त परिवार को दुख सहने की शक्ति दे भगवान।

विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि!

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) August 21, 2021

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also took to Twitter to offer condolences on the passing away of Kalyan Singh who also served as the Governor of Rajasthan.

Deeply saddened by the passing away of former Governor of Rajasthan and former CM of UP, Sh. Kalyan Singh ji. My heartfelt condolences to his family members. May God give them strength in this difficult time. May the departed soul rest in peace.

— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) August 21, 2021

Singh, 89, was undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit of the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) in Lucknow since 4 July.