Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee condoled the death of Koirala, saying he was a tall leader of South Asia who fought for democracy for a long period.
Describing veteran Nepalese politician Girija Prasad Koirala as "a statesman of great stature", India today said that in his demise it has lost a friend and key champion of democracy in the sub-continent.
"In passing away of Koirala, we lost a statesman of great stature," said Lok Sabha speaker Mira Kumar, who arrived here as part of a high-level delegation including finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and external affairs minister SM Krishna to attend the funeral of the Nepalese leader.
Koirala, who died yesterday at the age of 85, fought for deepening the roots of democracy in Nepal, she said after arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport.
In his demise, the sub-continent lost a great champion of democracy, Kumar said.
Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee also condoled the death of Koirala, saying he was a tall leader of South Asia who fought for democracy for a long period.
The Nepalese leader led the struggle for restoration of democracy and initiated the peace process in Nepal, he noted.
"In his demise we lost a great friend and a tall leader of South Asia," Mukherjee said.
The Indian leaders went to the residence of deputy prime minister and foreign minister Sujata Koirala, who is also the
daughter of Koirala, to express their condolences, before going to Dashrath Stadium where the veteran leader's body has been kept for people to pay their last respects.
Leader of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) DP Tripathi said Koirala was not only a great leader of Nepal, but was also a guardian of democracy in South Asia.
"Our entire country is filled with grief on his demise," he said.
A great tribute to Koirala will be the completion of the peace process in Nepal and drafting of the Constitution within the May 28 deadline, he said.
Samajwadi Party general secretary SN Sharma and its another leader Vijay Pratap also joined other Indian dignitaries in paying tributes to Koirala at the Stadium, where over two lakh people had come to have a last glimpse of the Nepali Congress leader.
This was the first time that so many people had gathered at one place in Kathmandu after the People's Movement of 2006.
Koirala's funeral is set to take place shortly and his body will be taken to major parts of the city in a procession before being cremated at Pashupati Aryaghat.
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