PM condoles death of former Orissa CM Nandini Sathpathy

New Delhi, Aug 5 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has expressed deep sorrow over the demise of former Chief Minister of Orissa Nandini Sathpathy.

In a letter to her son, Mr Tathagata Satpathy, the Prime Minister said, "A prominent and popular leader of our public life, Ms Sathpathy had a distinguished record of service to the nation. A close associate of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, she endeared herself to the people of our country by her calibre and talent as an able organiser and leader.'' She had the distinction of becoming the first woman Chief Minister of Orissa and in that capacity took bold measures to streamline the administration and ensure its efficiency. She will be long remembered for her courageous steps in expanding the scope of land reforms in Orissa, said a statement from the government.

''She not only excelled in the rough and tumble of politics but also made a name for herself as an outstanding writer and poet. Her numerous creative endeavours contributed to enrich the field of Oriya literature. In her unfortunate death, the country in general and Orissa in particular have lost a leader with a progressive world-view and a prominent litterateur'', the government statement added.

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