Tripura CPI-M cancels mass rally, mourns Basu

AGARTALA - The Tripura state committee of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Sunday cancelled all party programmes and rallies and decided to fly the party flag half-mast for next three days to mourn the death of veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu.

“Basu was a legendary leader. In future Indian politics, his absence would be felt,” said Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is also a CPI-M politburo member.

A delegation of nine top CPI-M leaders led by Sarkar would attend the condolence rally and cremation ceremony in Kolkata Tuesday.

Party leaders held an emergency meeting Sunday and expressed profound grief over Basu’s death.

Basu had last visited the state Feb 14, 2005.