'Raju Srivastava will live in our hearts.' PM Modi, Rajnath Singh & UP CM pay tribute to comedian, tweet condolences

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tribute to popular comedian Raju Srivastava, who breathed his last breath at the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after being admitted on August 10 following a heart attack.

The Prime Minister of India took to his Twitter handle to remember India's comic icon who died at the age of 58 on August 21.

PM Modi said that Srivastava brightened everyone's lives with laughter, humour and positivity. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader paid his condolence and said that the comedian will live in the hearts of countless people.


"Raju Srivastava brightened our lives with laughter, humour and positivity. He leaves us too soon but he will continue to live in the hearts of countless people thanks to his rich work over the years. His demise is saddening. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti," the PM tweeted.
Srivastava, who made a mark as a stand-up comic and later entered politics, died after more than 40 days in hospital. He was 58. He had joined the BJP in 2014.

Several political leaders from across the country paid a tribute to the late actor. The first to react was Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, who recalled Srivastava's humble journey from a poverty to fame.

"It is regrettable that Raju Srivastava is no more with us. He came from a poor family, but with his talent and hard work, he created his presence in the world. There are very few talented comedians like him. I remember how he wanted to contest from Kanpur when he joined SP," Yadav said, as quoted by ANI.


Srivastava was given an SP ticket in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, but he later returned it and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended condolences over the demise of Srivastava and called his sudden death a "great loss to the art world".

"Renowned comedian Raju Srivastava ji had a distinctive style, he impressed everyone with his amazing talent. His death is a great loss to the art world. I extend my condolences to his family and fans. May God give them the strength to bear this grief," Shah tweeted in Hindi.
The comedian passed away after spending over 41 days in Delhi hospital on a ventilator. On August 10, the comedian had experienced chest pain and collapsed while working out at a gym.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said he was saddened by the demise of the comedian. He said, "Raju Srivastav is no more with us. I, on behalf of the people of UP, pray that his soul rests in peace. I extend my condolences to his family."


Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also took to his Twitter handle and extended his condolence on the demise of the comedian.

The tweet reads, "I am deeply saddened by the passing away of renowned comedian, Raju Srivastava ji. Apart from being an accomplished artist, he was also a very lively person. He was also very active in the social field. I extend my condolences to his bereaved family and fans. Shanti!"
Srivastav was in the entertainment industry since the 1980s and shot to fame after participating in the first season of the reality stand-up comedy show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge in 2005.

Nitin Gadkari posted, "Anguished to hear about the demise of Comedy Legend Raju Srivastav Ji. An Entertainer par Excellence, his mannerisms & observational comedy truly mirrored the daily life of us Indians. My condolences to his family members. Om Shanti."


The 58-year-old has also appeared in supporting roles in Hindi films such as 'Maine Pyar Kiya', 'Baazigar', the remake of Bombay to Goa and 'Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiya'. Before his death, he was the chairman of the Film Development Council Uttar Pradesh.