Kejriwal, Sisodia condole Kuldip Nayar’s demise

New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday hailed veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar, saying his death was a “great loss” to the nation as he was one of the strongest voices for press freedom and democratic rights, “especially in today’s atmosphere”.

Nayar (95) died at a private hospital here around 12:30 am on Thursday. Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia were amo-ng the dignitaries who attended his funeral at the Lodhi Crematorium here. “He was one of the strongest voices for press freedom and democratic rights, especially in today’s atmosphere. It is a great loss to the nation. His absence will be sorely felt,” the chief minister told us.

He, however, did not elaborate as to what he meant by “today’s atmosphere”. Earlier, on Twitter, Kejri-wal had condoled the death of the noted journalist, who fought fiercely for press freedom and civil liberties. “Sad news coming in about the passing away of noted journalist and human rights crusader  Mr Kuldip Nayyar. He will be missed for his fight for press freedom and democratic values in these testing times. A huge loss to the nation (sic),” he had tweeted. Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav, who also attended the funeral, described Nayar as a man who had the courage of conviction.

“He was in the true sense the embodiment of the idea of India, the very facet of secularism as enshri-ned in our Constitution. He was civil, forthright and had the courage of conviction to tell the truth. Before his death, he had warned about the forces that go against that idea of India,” Yadav said.

The mortal remains of the journalist, who died on Thursday were consigned to flames, as grieving frie-nds, families, admirers and a large number of public figures bid farewell to a man, who was often described as an “institution in himself”.