RAIPUR,CG,BHARAT: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Thursday paid his last darshan and paid emotional tribute to former Rajya Sabha MP Shreegopal Vyas at his residence of Puraina.

The 92-year old Vyas had passed away at 6.45 am after prolonged old-age illness. His mortal remains were kept at his private residence 33, MLA Colony, Raipur till 10:45 am for the last ‘darshan’. As per the wish of Shreegopal Vyas, his mortal remains will be donated to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur.

The Chief Minister met the bereaved family members and consoled them. Revenue Minister Tankram Verma, former Governor Ramesh Bais, MLA Vikram Usendi and public representatives were present.

Sai said that Vyas was one of the pioneers of Chhattisgarh politics. He was a Rajya Sabha MP from Chhattisgarh state from 2006 to 2012.  Vyas was a great saint even though he was a householder. His simplicity impressed everyone.

The Chief Minister said, “It was my good fortune that I got the opportunity to work with him. He always worked in the interest of the country and society. This is an irreparable loss for the country and the state.”

Recalling the days spent with Vyas, Sai said, “I got the opportunity to participate in programs with him on many occasions. Generally we start any program by cutting the ribbon, but Vyas used to say that I personally do not like it. Our work is not to cut but to connect.”

Paying humble tribute to the demise of Vyas, the Chief Minister prayed to God to provide strength to the bereaved family.

Gopal Vyas was a senior RSS worker. He worked at the grassroots level for the Sangh and the BJP. He was in Raipur jail during the emergency from 1975 to 1977.

Due to old age, he was not active in politics at present. Recently, National BJP President JP Nadda came to Raipur and made him a member. Gopal Vyas, who was an engineer in BSP, was also known as ‘Shriru Bhaiya’.