BJP leaders pay rich tributes to Ex UP CM Kalyan Singh

New Delhi: Senior BJP leaders paid rich tributes to former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh on Saturday lauding his contributions as an administrator and exponent of the saffron party's ideology.

The prime minister Narendra Modi spoke to the veteran BJP leader's son Rajveer Singh and conveyed his condolence.

"I am saddened beyond words. Kalyan Singh Ji... statesman, veteran administrator, grassroots level leader and great human. He leaves behind an indelible contribution towards the development of Uttar Pradesh. Spoke to his son Shri Rajveer Singh and expressed condolences. Om Shanti," he said in a tweet.

"Generations to come will remain forever grateful to Kalyan Singh Ji for his contributions towards India's cultural regeneration. He was firmly rooted in Indian values and took pride in our centuries-old traditions.

"Kalyan Singh Ji gave voice to crores of people belonging to the marginalised sections of society. He made numerous efforts towards the empowerment of farmers, youngsters and women," he said.

President Ram Nath Kovind condoled Singh's demise, saying he had a "magical connect" with the masses.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu described Singh as a nationalist and an exemplary leader.

BJP president J P Nadda said Singh's death marks the end of an era as he showed a new direction to the country's politics. He never compromised with his ideals and strove for the rights of the poor and deprived sections of society, Nadda said.

Home Minister Amit Shah hailed him as a fierce nationalist and a great personality who lived in people's heart. The home minister said Singh, as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, delivered good governance with his dedication and political acumen and offered people an administration in which there was no fear of crime.

He ushered in reforms in education and made valuable contributions to the nation's development while serving in various capacities, he said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the former UP chief minister was a tall leader of not only the state but country who left his indelible imprint on the society with his personality and work.

The country will remember him for his role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, and he also worked hard to connect different sections of society with the BJP, the defence minister added.

Expressing grief, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Singh was synonymous with transparency and public service and his demise is an irreparable loss for the entire nation.

Speaking to reporters at the SGPGI, he said, "Kalyan Singhji is no more. He was ailing for the past two months and was undergoing treatment. At around 9.15 pm, he breathed his last. All of us feel sad. As the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and a mass leader, he showed transparency and firmness in administration.

"The values he stood for are still a benchmark. He was a prominent leader of the Ram temple movement. He did not hesitate to quit office, so that a grand temple for Lord Ram may be built in Ayodhya. After the disputed structure fell on December 6, 1992, he tendered resignation taking moral responsibility." The chief minister described Singh's demise as an irreparable loss for the society and the BJP.

Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Keshav Prasad Maurya said he feels sad over the demise of "babuji" as he used to get fatherly love from the veteran leader.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu and spokesperson of the party's state unit Ashok Singh also condoled the death of the veteran BJP leader.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati expressed grief over Singh's demise.

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav also paid tributes to the departed BJP leader in a tweet.

Singh (89) passed away due to sepsis and multi-organ failure in Lucknow on Saturday night. A two-term Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Singh had also served as the Governor of Rajasthan from 2014-2019.