Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi passes away

Kolkata: Cutting across party lines, politicians in Bengal on Monday paid glowing tributes to veteran Congress leader Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi who passed away earlier in the day in New Delhi.

The former Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting breathed his last at Apollo Hospital on Monday. He was in coma since 2008. He was 72 and is survived by his wife and a son.

The offices of the Bengal government were declared half holiday to mourn his death. He will be created at his Raigunj residence in north Dinajpur with full state honour on Tuesday.

The mortal remains of Dasmunsi were flown into Kolkata and kept at Peace Heaven. It will be taken to Bidhan Bhavan, headquarters of West Bengal Pradesh Congress and kept there from 8 am to 9 am. It will be then taken to his South Kolkata residence from where it will be taken to Raigunj in a helicopter.

Condoling his death, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said: "He was a popular leader and his death is an irreparable loss to Indian politics." She tweeted: "I am deeply saddened by the death of Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi. My deep condolences to members of his family, well-wishers and party workers. He was a very popular leader in Bengal since 1972. He was in a coma for almost 9 years. A massive stroke in 2008 virtually ended his political career. Otherwise, he could have done more in his political life. He was still alive. But now he is no more. It is a great loss. May his soul rest in peace."

Expressing grief, Subrata Mukherjee said: "I feel as if I have been orphaned. It is painful to think that he is no more. He was my political friend, philosopher, and guide. I used to reach out to him for both political and personal reasons. Everyone addressed us as Priya-Subrata."

State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said Dasmunsi was a national asset. "His death is the country's loss. We have decided that our party flags will be flown at half-mast for three days," Chowdhury added.

CPIM MP and Politburo member Mohammed Selim said: "His debates were based on logic and data and that era has ended with his demise."

CPI(M) state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra also expressed grief over Dasmunsi's death.

Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay said: "He was a group organiser and a complete politician. People used to attend his meetings because of his fiery speeches. I came to politics because of him."

Firhad Hakim added: "Priyada had inspired us to join student politics. I had worked under him. May his soul rest in peace."