New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee had to return mid-way while on his way to attend the funeral of Tamil Nadu chief minister and his one time Rajya Sabha colleague J. Jayalalithaa, whom he described as a ”fighter till the last moment”.
The Indian Air Force plane carrying Mr Mukherjee had to return mid-way at first after it developed a snag while flying over Agra. The President took off in the same aircraft an hour after that.
Sources said that since the technical snag was a minor one, it could be fixed quickly and there was no need to use a different aircraft.
Mr Mukherjee, who was the Leader of the House when Ms, Jayalalithaa entered Rajya Sabha in early 1980s said in all subjects concerning development and administration, she had a wonderful mastery over facts.
“She is a fighter and till the last moment, she fought against the cruelty of disease and sufferings. All other battles she won but perhaps everybody has to lose one fight and she has lost that,” he said.
Another of her Rajya Sabha colleagues, senior Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav told this newspaper; “It is a big loss. We were together in Rajya Sabha. We were both first time MPs in Parliament. In the House, our seats are next to each other”.
Mr Yadav said that Ms Jayalalithaa knew several languages. “She was very eloquent and knowledgeable. After P.V. Narasimha Rao and George Fernandes, she was the only leader knew several languages”.
“She never used an unnecessary word in her speeches. She had an excellent command over language. She always spoke to the point,” he said.
