Serpa was architect of Sikkim's accession to India: PM

New Delhi, July 31 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today expressed shock over the death of Sikkim's first Chief Minister Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khang Serpa, the ''architect'' of the state's accession to India.

''I am deeply shocked and grieved to learn of the sad demise of Shri Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khang Serpa, the first Chief Minister of Sikkim. He played a historic role as the architect of Sikkim's accession to the Indian Union and had the distinction of spearheading the State as its first Chief Minister from 1974 to 1979,'' Dr Singh said in a message.

The pride of place occupied by Sikkim as an important state and its impressive progress in many spheres owe a lot to numerous policies initiated by Mr Serpa, the Prime Minister said.

In his unfortunate passing away the country in general and the state of Sikkim in particular had lost a veteran public figure whose many sided contributions to nation building endeared him to the people, Dr Singh said.

UNI