The Hindu : Tragic and untimely: Naidu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 04, 2002

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Tragic and untimely: Naidu

Hyderabad March 3 . The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, today expressed profound shock and grief at the ``tragic and untimely'' demise of the Lok Sabha Speaker, G.M.C. Balayogi, in a helicopter crash today.

Terming Mr. Balayogi's demise as not only a personal loss but a loss to the State and nation as well, Mr. Naidu, in a condolence message, said Mr. Balayogi's legacy as Speaker was unique and historic in the annals of our Parliamentary democracy.

``Mr. Balayogi was suave, soft spoken and mild mannered person, who always took pride in making himself accessible to the people'', he said, adding that the Speaker ``never distanced himself from the problems in life. Instead he always met challenges with renewed zeal''.

Stating that Mr. Balayogi's commitment to serve the poor and downtrodden and his interest in rural development were worth emulating, Mr. Naidu said the former took keen interest in his role as a Speaker which involved a lot of activity other than presiding over the House. _ PTI

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