People were close to him, says Sonia Gandhi

New Delhi / Hyderabad: President Ram Nath Kovind led the nation in paying tribute to Congress veteran S. Jaipal Reddy, with leaders across the country hailing the former minister as an outstanding politician, orator and administrator.

The President remembered Reddy as a “thinking person’s politician and outstanding parliamentarian”.

Prime Minister Naren-dra Modi said Jaipal Reddy was an effective administrator. In a tweet, Mr Modi said, “Shri Jaipal Reddy had years of experience in public life. He was resp-ected as an articulate speaker and effective administrator. Saddened by his demise.”

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, in whose Cabinet Jaipal Reddy served between 2004-14, called him a friend and expressed deep sadness at his untimely demise. “He was a treasure of wisdom and knowledge. My condolences to the bere-aved family,” Dr Singh said in a statement.

BJP president and Union home minister Amit Shah expressed sadness at Jaipal Reddy’s demise while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called him an “outstanding parliamentarian and a great son of Telangana who dedicated his entire life towards public service.”

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi said Reddy was an erudite and humane leader who enriched Parliament and different governments he served. She said Jaipal Reddy was respected across political parties and adored by the media for his accessibility and forthright responses. “He always had the interest of people close to his heart,” she said. “He was a trusted colleague and respected senior leader whose untimely death leaves a void that can never be filled,” she said in a letter to his wife Lakshmi Reddy.