Parliament mourns Ranga’s death

In the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi and leaders of various political parties described Ranga’ as an able parliamentarian, a capable administrator and a tireless fighter who took up cudgels for the labour class and the downtrodden.

Condoling Kumaramangalam’s death, Speaker M C Balayogi said he was an active parliamentarian who gave voice to the problems of the common man.

In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Krishan Kant described Kumaramangalam as an eminent parliamentarian, an outstanding administrator, a dynamic personality and a great crusader for common man’s cause.

Kant said his passing away was a great loss and leaves behind a void.

"Ranga carved a niche for himself and it would be difficult to fill the void created by his death," said former prime minister Chandra Shekhar.

Former Speaker and NCP leader P A Sangma said Kumaramangalam always stood for the welfare of the labour class and fought for their rights all through his life.

"He had tremendous capacity to articulate his views and after the death of Rajesh Pilot, the country has lost yet another bright and young politician," Sangma said.

Mulayam Singh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), S Venugopalachari (TDP), Rashid Alvi (BSP), P H Pandian (AIADMK) and Raghuvans Prasad Singh (RJD) described him as a remarkable personality who proved he was capable in whatever task he took up and "always spoke and acted in the interests of the country."

Vajpayee said Kumaramangalam’s death came as a rude shock to the nation as he was a "very good speaker, advocate, versatile parliamentarian and had a long way to go."

Describing Kumaramangalam’s death as a personal loss, leader of Opposition Sonia Gandhi said his end showed "our inability and vulnerability to the power over which we have no control." She said he distinguished himself as Power Minister who was dynamic and had bold ideas and was constantly in search of new and innovative methods.

Somnath Chatterjee (CPI-M) said it was his personal loss and "it was extremely sad and heart rending that another of our bright young politicians has been snatched away from us."

At the beginning of the monsoon session it was Rajesh Pilot and now it is Kumaramangalam, he said adding it would be very difficult to fill the void and the entire nation would feel his loss.