Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has expressed his condolences on the sudden passing away of three-term former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal wrote, “Just now got to know about the extremely terrible news about the passing away of Mrs. Sheila Dikshit Ji. It is a huge loss for Delhi and her contribution will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to her family members. May her soul rest in peace.”
Just now got to know about the extremely terrible news about the passing away of Mrs Sheila Dikshit ji. It is a huge loss for Delhi and her contribution will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to her family members. May her soul rest in peace
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 20, 2019
News agency ANI later quoted him as saying, “People will miss Sheila Dikshit ji a lot, she had worked a lot for Delhi. Even though we were from different parties, whenever I met her she showed a lot of love. I pray to God to give peace to her soul and strength to her family to cope with this loss.”
His deputy Manish Sisodia later said that the Delhi government had decided to observe a two-day state mourning as a mark of respect in the memory of the departed soul. Sisodia said that Sheila Dikshit will be accorded a state funeral.
Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party had launched a ferocious campaign against Dikshit in 2013 leading to her subsequent defeat.
In 2012, Sheila Dikshit, the then chief minister of Delhi, had sent a defamation notice to Kejriwal for leveling ‘baseless allegations and aspersions’ using ‘foul and filthy’ language.
The veteran Congress leader and former Delhi CM died on Saturday afternoon at the age of 81. She was the head of the party’s Delhi unit and even contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls unsuccessfully from the North-West Delhi seat against BJP’s Manoj Tiwari.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi tweeted saying that he was devastated by the sudden death of the former Delhi Chief Minister. He wrote, “I’m devastated to hear about the passing away of Sheila Dikshit Ji, a beloved daughter of the Congress Party, with whom I shared a close personal bond. My condolences to her family & the citizens of Delhi, whom she served selflessly as a 3 term CM, in this time of great grief.”
I’m devastated to hear about the passing away of Sheila Dikshit Ji, a beloved daughter of the Congress Party, with whom I shared a close personal bond.
My condolences to her family & the citizens of Delhi, whom she served selflessly as a 3 term CM, in this time of great grief.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 20, 2019
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid his tribute to Dikshit as he wrote, “Deeply saddened by the demise of Sheila Dikshit Ji. Blessed with a warm and affable personality, she made a noteworthy contribution to Delhi’s development. Condolences to her family and supporters. Om Shanti.”
Deeply saddened by the demise of Sheila Dikshit Ji. Blessed with a warm and affable personality, she made a noteworthy contribution to Delhi’s development. Condolences to her family and supporters. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/jERrvJlQ4X
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 20, 2019
Former India cricketer and now BJP MP from Delhi, Gautam Gambhir too wrote on Twitter calling Dikshit a true champion of people. He wrote, “I’m deeply saddened to hear about the untimely death of Sheila Dixitji. A fierce champion of the people, she dedicated her life to better Delhi. A huge loss for the capital. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.”