Lok Sabha speaker mourns Gayatri Devi's death

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Thursday mourned the death of Rajmata Gayatri Devi, the erstwhile maharani of Jaipur, saying she was "a distinguished member of parliament and an exemplary human being".

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Thursday mourned the death of Rajmata Gayatri Devi, the erstwhile maharani of Jaipur, saying she was "a distinguished member of parliament and an exemplary human being".

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Gayatri Devi, who was once considered one of the world's most beautiful women and always stayed in the limelight despite the fall of royalty in India, died in Jaipur on Wednesday. She was 90.

Paying rich tributes to her, Meira Kumar said Gayatri Devi contributed "purposively to the cause of national development".

"More notably, she championed the cause of empowerment of women and weaker sections. Women's education was very close to her heart."

Meira Kumar conveyed her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of Rajmata Gayatri Devi.

Gayatri Devi won from the Jaipur Lok Sabha constituency in 1962 and continued to hold this seat in 1967 and 1971 contesting against the Congress as a candidate of the Swatantra Party of C Rajagopalachari.