Union Ministers condole Gujral's demise

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said that Gujral, also a former Foreign Minister, represented India absolutely well.

"He was a talented person, well read and also a writer," he told reporters outside Parliament House.

Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said, "I am deeply grieved... He practised the politics of idealism and conviction. Succeeding generations would be inspired by him."

He said he had a personal relationship with the former Prime Minister, who was a freedom fighter and patriot. "I always received affection from him like a father treats his son," he said.

Kumar said Gujral's core interest was foreign policy. "A joke was going around (at that time) that if you have Gujral in Moscow, then there is no need in Russia for a foreign minister... He had balanced views and believed in Nehruvian policies," he said.

Railway Minister Pavan Kumar Bansal said that Gujral's demise "is a big loss to the country".

Expressing condolences, Bansal said that Gujral "followed value-based politics. He was a remarkable, great and one of the rare Parliamentarians".

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) V Narayanasamy said that Gujral was a very learned person as well as a voracious reader.

"I pray to God to give courage to his family. He had handled important issues. He worked for the development of the country. Gujral was the Prime Minister at a crucial period and carried on the coalition partners," Narayanasamy said.