Sonia Gandhi pays tribute to Sheila Dikshit

Veteran Congress leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit passed away on Saturday at a private hospital here following a cardiac arrest. She was 81.

Gandhi, who spent around five minutes at Sheila Dikshit's residence, met the deceased's sister Rama Dikshit and expressed her condolences.

Others who paid their respect included senior Congress leaders Jyotiraditya Scindia, Shivraj Patil, Ahmed Patel and Jagdish Tytler, Loktantrik Janta Dal (LJP) leader Sharad Yadav and CPI-M leaders Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat.

"She had dedicated her entire life to the welfare of the society. Even at this stage of life, she had always been the voice of the public," Scindia said after coming out of her house.

"She had a motherly nature and no one can claim that she was rude. I have seen Delhi changing under her tenure," said Sharad Yadav after paying his tributes to the departed soul.

Dikshit's body was brought to her residence at 5.30 p.m. amid "Shiela Dikshit Amar Rahe" chants. Since then, political leaders cutting across party lines and followers of the late leader have been gathering outside her residence.

Jagdish Tytler and Senior BJP leader Vijay Goel were among the first to reach her residence.