<p>Political leaders, rights activists and the general public on Saturday paid their last respects to Swami Agnivesh, and remembered him as a "truly secular" person, who fought for bonded labourers' and women's rights.</p>.<p>Social activist Agnivesh, who was suffering from liver cirrhosis for a long time, died of multi-organ failure at a Delhi hospital on Friday. He was 80.</p>.<p>His last rites will be performed on Saturday at the Agnilok Ashram in Behelpa, Gurgaon at 4 pm. Before that, his body was kept at his office at 7, Jantar Mantar Road for people to pay their last respects.</p>.<p>"He was a great friend of the entire Left movement. He used to call me comrade and I also addressed him as comrade Swami. He never hesitated in identifying himself with progressive forces fighting for the poor,” CPI leader D Raja said.</p>.<p>"Despite his saffron dress, he was secular to the core. He was a champion of bonded laborers in the country,” he said.</p>.<p>Top leaders of the DMK and the PMK, M K Stalin and S Ramadoss, condoled the death of Agnivesh.</p>.<p>"Despite being attacked by communal forces many times, he remained steadfast on his policies," Stalin said in a statement.</p>.<p>PMK founder S Ramadoss mourned the death of his 'friend', Swami Agnivesh and said he was supportive of the party's stand against alcohol and smoking.</p>.<p>Political activist Yogendra Yadav said Swami Agnivesh was a representative of the Hindu principle of tolerance and respect for every religion -- “Sarva Dharma Sambhava”.</p>.<p>"He respected every religion the way he venerated his own… He made us understand the real meaning of 'dharma' … which is not being in a temple or an ashram, but being among the poor and serving them,” he said.</p>.<p>Lawyer Mehmood Pracha said Swami Agnivesh fought for bonded labourers, women and child rights and the fight will continue even after his demise.</p>.<p>“Recently, he was attacked on many occasions by people belonging to certain groups who were against his ideology,” he said.</p>.<p>Those who came to pay last respects wore masks and followed Covid-19 protocols.</p>.<p>Agnivesh was critically ill and admitted to an ICU of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, and was on ventilatory support since Tuesday.</p>.<p>He was suffering from liver cirrhosis. He died due to multi-organ failure, doctors said. </p>
<p>Political leaders, rights activists and the general public on Saturday paid their last respects to Swami Agnivesh, and remembered him as a "truly secular" person, who fought for bonded labourers' and women's rights.</p>.<p>Social activist Agnivesh, who was suffering from liver cirrhosis for a long time, died of multi-organ failure at a Delhi hospital on Friday. He was 80.</p>.<p>His last rites will be performed on Saturday at the Agnilok Ashram in Behelpa, Gurgaon at 4 pm. Before that, his body was kept at his office at 7, Jantar Mantar Road for people to pay their last respects.</p>.<p>"He was a great friend of the entire Left movement. He used to call me comrade and I also addressed him as comrade Swami. He never hesitated in identifying himself with progressive forces fighting for the poor,” CPI leader D Raja said.</p>.<p>"Despite his saffron dress, he was secular to the core. He was a champion of bonded laborers in the country,” he said.</p>.<p>Top leaders of the DMK and the PMK, M K Stalin and S Ramadoss, condoled the death of Agnivesh.</p>.<p>"Despite being attacked by communal forces many times, he remained steadfast on his policies," Stalin said in a statement.</p>.<p>PMK founder S Ramadoss mourned the death of his 'friend', Swami Agnivesh and said he was supportive of the party's stand against alcohol and smoking.</p>.<p>Political activist Yogendra Yadav said Swami Agnivesh was a representative of the Hindu principle of tolerance and respect for every religion -- “Sarva Dharma Sambhava”.</p>.<p>"He respected every religion the way he venerated his own… He made us understand the real meaning of 'dharma' … which is not being in a temple or an ashram, but being among the poor and serving them,” he said.</p>.<p>Lawyer Mehmood Pracha said Swami Agnivesh fought for bonded labourers, women and child rights and the fight will continue even after his demise.</p>.<p>“Recently, he was attacked on many occasions by people belonging to certain groups who were against his ideology,” he said.</p>.<p>Those who came to pay last respects wore masks and followed Covid-19 protocols.</p>.<p>Agnivesh was critically ill and admitted to an ICU of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, and was on ventilatory support since Tuesday.</p>.<p>He was suffering from liver cirrhosis. He died due to multi-organ failure, doctors said. </p>