Condolences pour in for Balasaheb Thackeray

Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, whose was ailing for quite some time now, passed away at his residence Matoshree in Mumbai today. He was 86.

As news of his death spread, condolence messages started flooding social networking site Twitter.

The Prime Minister's office (@PMOIndia) posted - "Prime Minister condoles the passing away of Shri Bala Saheb Thackeray; Cancels his scheduled dinner with Opposition leaders."

Balasaheb Thackeray was an epitome of courage & valour, said the PM (File pic)

The Prime Minister also said, "For him the interests of Maharashtra were particularly important and he always strived to inculcate a sense of pride in its people. He founded the Shiv Sena and built the party into a formidable force in the State politics with his strong leadership"

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "Full of life, Balasaheb Thackeray was an epitome of courage & valour. I am grieved to hear about his demise. May his soul rest in peace."

BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said, "I am terribly pained to hear that the Lion is dead."

It is difficult to imagine that Balasaheb has left us, said Big B (File pic)

Actor Amitabh Bachchan posted - "I sat by his bedside for hours these past few days, a prayer in my heart, watching him struggling to breathe, but fighting each day he continued his struggle with a grit that was baffling even for the doctors on hand. And just a couple of hours back, as I stand next to his still, peaceful, saffron draped body, it is difficult to imagine that he has left us.

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar too expressed her condolences and remembered Balasaheb as a 'Hindu hriday samrat'.

She further said, "Yeh satya hai ki aaj Maharashtra anaath ho gaya. Unhone itne saalon se jo mahaan kaarya, aur Maharashtra ki sewa ki hai, aur Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ka naam Maharashtra mein zinda rakha, aisa kisi ne nahi kiya. Balasaheb ki pavitra aatma ko hum Mangeshkar koti-koti pranaam karte hain aur unki aatma ko Ishwar shanti de, yehi prarthana karte hain."

Singer Lata Mangeshkar remembered Balasaheb as au00a0a 'Hindu hriday samrat' (File pic)

Actor Kabir Bedi said, "My condolences to the entire family of #Balasaheb Thackeray. Was always a major influence in the politics of Maharashtra. RIP Bal Thackeray."

Others who offered their condolences were actors Neha Dhupia, Arjun Rampal, Ajay Devgn and Vivek Oberoi.

Along with celebrities, a number of other Twitter users expressed their sadness over the Shiv Sena supremo's death.