Both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day today as a mark of respect to former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral who passed away on Friday.

Making an obituary reference in the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Mohammed Hamid Ansari said in the passing away of Mr. Gujral the country has lost a veteran freedom fighter, a great statesman, an able administrator, an erudite scholar and a distinguished Parliamentarian.

The Chairman said Mr Gujral, who hailed from a family of freedom fighters, had actively participated in the freedom struggle and was jailed during the Quit India Movement. Mr Gujral was a member of the Rajya Sabha for three terms and was the Leader of the House twice.

Paying tribes in the Lok Sabha, Speaker Meira Kumar recalled that Gujral had represented India as a Special Envoy to more than seven countries. He had led many delegations to the United Nations.

Mr Gujral represented the Jalandhar Constituency in Punjab in the House for two terms. Members in both the Houses stood in silence as a mark of respect in memory of the departed leader.

Mr Gujral had served as Union Minister for External Affairs and Water Resources. Earlier, he was Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Communications. Mr Gujral was Prime Minister from April 1997 to March 1998.