The
body of veteran CPI leader AB Bardhan, who died in New Delhi on Saturday after
prolonged illness, was brought to the party headquarters, where his admirers
and leaders from across political parties paid tributes to him.
Vice
President Hamid Ansari, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister
Arun Jaitley, Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram
Yechury and Cogress leader Raj Babbar were among those who visited
Ajoy Bhawan to pay tributes to Bardhan.
Mourners
filed past the body, wrapped in party flag, which was brought to the CPI headquarters
at 10 am. His last rites will be performed at the Nigambodh Ghat electric
crematorium here at 3 pm on Monday.
Liu Jin
Song, DCM and Minister at the Chinese Embassy, also paid tributes to the
departed CPI leader.
92-year
old Bardhan passed away on Saturday at the GB Pant Hospital here after
prolonged illness.
Ardhendu
Bhushan Bardhan had steered the party during the turbulent period of coalition
politics at national level.
Bardhan was born in Barisal, Bengal
Presidency, British
India (now Bangladesh) on 25 September 1924. He embraced Communism at the age
of 15 after he moved to Nagpur. He joined
the All India
Students Federation at the Nagpur
University in 1940. He
joined the Communist
Party of India (which was then banned), the same
year. He served as the President of the Nagpur University Students' Union.
Bardhan held a postgraduate degree in economics and a degree in law.
