Congress leader mourned

PM Atal Behari Vajpayee was among those paying respects

The funeral has taken place in India of the leader of the Congress Party, Rajesh Pilot, who was killed in a car crash on Sunday.

Hundreds of people lined the roads as Mr Pilot's body was driven from his home in New Delhi in an Indian Air Force truck.

Many are mourning Rajesh Pilot

It was first taken to the Congress headquarters, where party leader Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders, paid homage.

Amidst chanting of slogans by mourners and supporters, the body was taken to Nigambodh Ghat, where it was cremated.

Tributes

The president, prime minister and other prominent leaders have expressed shock and grief at 55-year old Mr Pilot's sudden death, which Congress leaders said could further damage the shrinking political fortunes of the party.

President K R Narayanan described Mr Pilot as a staunch nationalist.

The party has lost a stalwart who was an able administrator, a capable parliamentarian and a loveable personality

Congress president Sonia Gandhi

He said a career of great significance and promise had been cut short by Mr Pilot's death.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said Mr Pilot's fighter spirit would be remembered by all.

He said Mr Pilot had served the nation, whether in power or in opposition.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who was among the first to visit Mr Pilot's residence in New Delhi, said the party had lost a stalwart who was an able administrator, a capable parliamentarian and a loveable personality.

Home Minister L K Advani visited the Congress office to offer his condolences.

He said that, with Mr Pilot's death, the country had lost a great patriot and a promising career in national politics had been cut short.

Former prime ministers P V Naramisha Rao and V P Singh described him as a dynamic, promising and energetic young leader.

Humble background

Rajesh Pilot came from a very humble background, in both the financial and caste sense.

His father was a small farmer and the family belonged to a backward caste, known as the Gujjars.

He was also quite different from some of his colleagues in the Congress Party, in that he could be quite outspoken and unorthodox.

Mr Pilot served as internal security minister in the government of former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao in 1991-1995.

Analysts say he was also successful in opening lines of communication with Muslim leaders in Kashmir during his tenure.

Mr Pilot is survived by his wife Rama, a son and a daughter.