Former Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat is no more. He was 87. Mr. Shekhawat was admitted to the ICU of Sawai Man Singh Hospital of Jaipur on Thursday following complains of uneasiness and breathing trouble.<br/><br/>Doctors had said that the former Vice-President suffered from lung and chest infection. His condition deteriorated further this morning. He was put on ventilator and given cardiac massage.<br/><br/>Funeral of Mr Shekhawat will take place in Jaipur on Sunday with full state honours. According to his family sources the embalmed body will be kept at his bungalow in the civil lines area to enable people to pay their last respects. A state cabinet meeting in Jaipure decided to announce a state mourning for three days.<br/><br/>The body of the former Vice-President will later be taken to the BJP office before cremation at Chandpol ground.<br/><br/>President, Vice-President and Prime Minister have condoled the death of former Vice President on his sad demis.<br/><br/>As the news of his death this morning spread, leaders from across the political spectrum rushed to his residence to pay their tributes.<br/><br/>The President Mrs. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil expressing condolence said that country has lost a great statesman who was a man of political repute. Vice-President Mohd.<br/><br/>Hamid Ansari expressed grief and said that Mr. Shekhawat had a glorious record of sevice to the country and the people. He described him as having earned the respect and admiration of the people for his dedication, sense of public service and innate simplicity.<br/><br/>Senior BJP leader LK Advani said that party has lost a great leader and an able administrator. He was an asset to the party who has always worked for the upliftment of the rural masses.<br/><br/>BJP President Nitin Gadkari was aggrieved at the loss and said that Bharat Mata has lost a great son and his services to the party will always be remembered.<br/><br/>Minister of Minority Affairs Mr. Salman Khurshid expressed condolence to his family and spoke in glowing terms about him stating that he was a leader of high eminence.<br/><br/>Union Minister Farooq Abdullah termed the departed leader a gentleman who had friends across the political spectrum. The Minister of Rural Development Mr. C.P. Joshi described the demise as a great loss to society and nation.<br/><br/>Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has described Mr.Shekhawat's demise as a loss to the nation and end of an era.<br/><br/>Former Union Minister Natwar Singh condoled the death of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat saying he was a popular leader with his roots in the village. The former External Affairs Minister noted that Shekhawat performed "extremely well" as Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha.<br/><br/>Born on October 23, 1923 in Khachariyawas, a small village in Sikar district, he was sworn-in as the country's 12th Vice-President on August 19, 2002.<br/><br/>Mr. Shekhawat was the only member of the Rajasthan Assembly to have won in every Assembly election since 1952, except 1972 when he lost from Gandhi Nagar in Jaipur.<br/><br/>He was also elected to the Rajya Sabha from neighbouring Madhya Pradesh in 1974. Mr. Shekhawat enjoyed the distinction of heading three non-Congress Governments in the state in 1977-1980, 1990-1992 and 1993-1998.<br/><br/>His tenure as the Chief Minister of the desert state was marked by pragmatism as his Government launched path-breaking policies.<br/><br/>His brainchild – the Antyodaya scheme to help the poorest of the poor brought international accolades for Mr. Shekhawat with the then World Bank Chief Robert McNamara describing him as the Rockfeller of India. <br/><br/>Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the demise of former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.<br/> <br/>In a condolence message he said in spite of being a hard core BJP leader, Shekhawat always maintained cordial relations with leaders of other political parties.