Picture : Twitter / ANI
The Lok Sabha paid its respects Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat , who along with his wife and 11 others died in chopper crash in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. The members also stood in silence for a brief while as a mark of respect for the departed souls.
As soon as the House met for the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement on the crash, and said that an inquiry has started into the incident. He also paid tributes to the deceased.
As a mark of respect towards General Rawat and other deceased, the Opposition leaders called off their ongoing sit-in protest against the suspension of the 12 Rajya Sabha MPs for the day.
Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Upper House Mallikarjun Kharge told ANI on Thursday, “We have decided not to protest, against the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs, today in honour of CDS General Bipin Rawat and the soldiers who died in the chopper crash and to pay tribute to them. “We will also attend Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s address.”
Rajya Sabha observes two-minute silence on the demise of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and other personnel in a military helicopter crash near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.
Meanwhile, Floral tributes were on Thursday paid to Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and 11 others killed in an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter crash here earlier.
Senior Army officials, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, state ministers and Army veterans laid wreaths and paid floral tributes to the mortal remains of the deceased at the Madras Regimental Centre at Wellington.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin pays floral tribute to CDS Bipin Rawat and others who died in the Coonoor chopper crash, at Madras Regimental Centre in Nilgiris district pic.twitter.com/1b9vB0yOct
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2021
The mortal remains of the crash victims in caskets wrapped in the Indian tricolour were brought to the venue in decorated army trucks.
Tamil Nadu Ministers K N Nehru, MP Saminathan and K Ramachandran, senior state government and police officials and Army personnel among others paid tributes to the departed persons.
Moreover tributes have not stopped for Bipin Rawat, Leaders cutting across party lined paid their respects on twitter
S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister
Deeply shocked at tragic demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat and his wife.
We worked closely together in the last few years. It is a huge loss to the nation.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 8, 2021
M K Stalin, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
Extremely saddened by the demise of India’s first CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat and the 11 armed forces personnel in the tragic chopper crash near Coonoor. I join the nation in mourning this irreparable loss and offer my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. pic.twitter.com/wu3UVWcsxb
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) December 8, 2021
Omar Abdullah, Former J& K Chief Minister,
Condolences to the families of Gen Rawat & the others killed in the helicopter crash earlier today. May their souls rest in peace. https://t.co/3v8H2uTvOB
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 8, 2021
P Chidambaram, Congress Leader and Former Finance Minister
Deeply shocked and saddened by the death of General Rawat in a helicopter crash
Sincere and heartfelt condolences to his family and the Army to which he proudly belonged and served for several decades
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) December 8, 2021
Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Chief Minister
Pained by the untimely demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other Armed Forces personnel in the tragic accident in Coonoor today.
The entire nation mourns this irreparable loss. We will always remember the courage and devotion with which he served our nation.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 8, 2021
Mahua Moitra. TMC MP Lok Sabha
Worst fears now confirmed- CDS Vipin Rawat & his wife have lost their lives along with others in chopper crash.
Rest in peace . India’s prayers are with you
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) December 8, 2021
