Speaker R Dhanapal read out an obituary reference to the former Prime Minister, tracing his political career since his early days as a freedom fighter.
"Born in a family that was involved in the freedom struggle, he was attracted to politics in his student days and went to jail after participating in the Quit India movement in 1942... This Assembly is shocked over his demise," he said while expressing grief over Gujral's demise.
"As an External Affairs Minister, he gained popularity for devising foreign policy principles for amicable relations with neighbouring countries," Dhanapal said while also recalling Gujral's stint as India's Ambassador to Soviet Russia.
He said Gujral was known for his "honesty and dedication" and hailed him as a great poet and painter. The Assembly expressed its sympathies and condolences with the family of the deceased, he said.
Reading out obituary references to former MLAs of the Assembly who had died recently, including former DMK Minister Veerapandi S Arumugam, Dhanapal later adjourned the House for the day as a mark of respect to the deceased. The members also observed silence.
