Bal Thackeray dies: Political class condoles his passing
of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said on Twitter "I am terribly pained to hear that the Lion is dead."
She said he was never deterred by any opposition. "His persona was as high and firm as the Himalayas. His death is an irreparable loss to the country. His departure has left a void which will never be filled."
Swaraj's counterpart in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said Thackeray "was one of the most charismatic leaders of his generation and was uncompromising in his principles."
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said Thackeray, as a cartoonist, arrived on the scene like a storm after the collapse of communists in Mumbai and took forward the legacy of his reformist father, `Prabodhankar' Thacke.
Agriculture Minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar said described Thackeray as a "magnanimous" person who was ready "to pay any political price" for his stands.
"Fierce pride about Maharashtra, willingness to pay any price for the interest of Marathi language, Maharashtrians, but at the same time the readiness to contribute on Maharashtra's behalf for the sake of the country, these were the hallmarks of Balasaheb," Pawar said.
Acknowledging differences with Thackeray, Pawar however said "when there were national-level problems, he had the capability to take a generous stand. No other leader in the country had this power."
DMK chief M Karunanidhi said Thackeray's "love and simplicity during his Chennai visit impressed me a lot".
Thackeray was a person who would not come forward to compromise on the welfare of people from his state, Karunanidhi said.
Punjab Deputy Chief
