Congress leader Motilal Vora passes away at 93
New Delhi, Dec 21: Senior Congress leader Motilal Vora died on Monday at a hospital here following post-COVID-19 complications, his family said.
He was 93.
Vora was admitted to the Escorts Hospital in Okhla here a few days ago with a urinary infection. He also had a lung infection and was put on ventilator support, his family said.
He completed 93 years only on Sunday. He will be cremated in Chhattisgarh where his body will be taken either later in the day or on Tuesday.
Vora, a former Chief minister of undivided Madhya Pradesh and also a former Governor of Uttar Pradesh, had served as a Rajya Sabha member four times and as a Lok Sabha member once.
Several political leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi paid their tributes to the departed leader.
PM Modi said he was saddened by the demise of the Congress veteran.
"Shri Motilal Vora Ji was among the senior-most Congress leaders, who had vast administrative and organisational experience in a political career that spanned decades. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and well-wishers. Om Shanti," the PM said in a tweet.
In his condolence message, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was sad on hearing about Vora's demise. The minister said he had worked closely with Vora when he was UP Governor.
"He was respected across parties as a gentle and experienced politician. I express my condolences to his family in this hour of grief," Singh said in a tweet in Hindi.
Rahul Gandhi condoled Vora's demise, saying he was a wonderful human being and a true Congressman.
Vora ji was a true congressman and a wonderful human being. We will miss him very much. My love and condolences to his family and friends, he tweeted.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said every Congress leader and worker is feeling personally pained over Vora's death.
Vora ji was a symbol of loyalty, dedication and patience towards the ideology of Congress, she said.
She also said Vora was present at every party meeting even at an advanced age of 92 and expressed his views openly on every issue. "Today, while bidding him goodbye I feel sad that an elder member of the family has left us. We will all miss him very much."
Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "A giant is no more. Sh Moti Lal Vora was the epitome of commitment, dedication and loyalty. He inspired an entire generation by his untiring attitude and capacity to brave every adversity. My heartfelt homage.
The Congress party also tweeted through its official handle, "We offer our heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of stalwart Congress leader, former Union Cabinet Minister and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Motilal Vora. Congress has lost a guiding light. May his soul rest in peace."
Vora ji was a true congressman and a wonderful human being. We will miss him very much.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 21, 2020
My love & condolences to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/MvBBGGJV27
श्री मोतीलाल वोरा जी के निधन से कांग्रेस पार्टी के हर एक नेता, हर एक कार्यकर्ता को व्यक्तिगत तौर पर दुःख महसूस हो रहा है। वोरा जी कांग्रेस की विचारधारा के प्रति निष्ठा, समर्पण और धैर्य के प्रतीक थे।... @MotilalVora pic.twitter.com/Qvp0R3yRb8
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) December 21, 2020
A giant is no more !
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) December 21, 2020
Sh. Moti Lal Vora was the epitome of commitment, dedication & loyalty.
He inspired an entire generation by his untiring attitude & capacity to brave every adversity.
My heartfelt homage !? pic.twitter.com/5r13Uepl8i
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RSS' method is to make personal attacks, did so with Mahatma Gandhi as well: Rahul Gandhi
Araria (Bihar) (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that making personal attacks is the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's method of targeting anyone and it did so with Mahatma Gandhi as well.
Gandhi made the remarks at an interaction with Mahagathbandhan allies in Bihar, a video of which he posted on his X handle.
In the video, Gandhi is seen having tea at a dhaba here on Sunday with RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, CPI(ML)'s Dipankar Bhattacharya, Vikassheel Insaan Party's Mukesh Sahani, Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson Tushar Gandhi, Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Kumar and Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan.
"The RSS method of attacking is (making) personal attacks. They used to do it with Gandhi ji all the time. People don't know, don't remember the amount of abuse and defamation heaped on him (Gandhi) by the RSS. How much they lied about him, this is their style," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
Tushar Gandhi said that earlier debates used to be very strong and heated, but there was never personal abuse. "Now it has been legitimised," he said, to which Yadav added that it has started to happen after 2014.
"They abused Karpoori Thakur ji and then had to give him a Bharat Ratna," Yadav said.
Talking about the alleged "vote chori", Yadav said people would earlier say that they cast their vote but when the results came, they did not know where their vote had gone.
"Now, these things that are coming out with evidence and facts, people now know that theft is happening. The approach that the Election Commission has taken, people have got the message that the two (EC and the BJP) are in collusion. What (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji is saying, the Election commissioner is doing," the RJD leader said.
Echoing similar views, Sahani said that the people felt they voted for the INDIA bloc, but the result was opposite.
"Now that you (Rahul Gandhi) have brought out the facts, people know that something is wrong and Modi ji is doing some 'hera pheri'. Their (BJP's) voters have also started to believe so," the chief of VIP said.
Sahani and the Congress' Kumar and Khan hailed the Voter Adhikar Yatra and the enthusiasm among the people.
"People earlier never used to hit the road at 8 in the morning and we have also not done that, but it is happening here," Sahani said.
Posting the video of the interaction, Rahul Gandhi said on X, "Yatra, vote chori, and Gandhi ji -- a lively political discussion over hot tea and pakoras with coalition partners."
Gandhi launched the Voter Adhikar Yatra, supported by all Mahagathbandhan constituents, against the Election Commission's special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
The 16-day yatra, which began on August 17 from Sasaram, will conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1 before covering over 1,300 km across the state, where assembly elections are due later this year.
The yatra has so far covered Gayaji, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Katihar and Purnea districts. Further, it will pass through Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, West Champaran, Saran, Bhojpur and Patna districts.
