Maharashtra CM condoles Baba Amte's death

Nagpur, Feb 9 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has condoled the death of noted social worker and Magsaysay award winner Baba Amte, who passed away at his residence at Warora in Chandrapur district in Vidarbha region of the state today.

Mr Deshmukh, in his message, said Baba Amte gave leprosy patients and the downtrodden the hope to live. Baba gave them confidence, hope and direction, and the creation of the 'Anandwan' Ashram was his greatest contribution to society.

A social reformer, Amte also strived for bringing about social harmony through his 'Bharat Jodi' (Knit India) Yatras, Mr Deshmukh said.

By his death, the country had lost a visionary who had unshakable confidence on his work and worked tirelessly to create an ideal in the service of the downtrodden, he added.

Union Minister for Power Sushilkumar Shinde said Baba's work would continue to inspire for all times to come.

''Baba's passing away makes me feel as if an angel has gone to God,'' he said.

In his condolence message, Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Vilas Muttemwar said Baba Amte was a great humanitarian who created an ideal for everyone with his service to leprosy patients. The third generation of his family was now dedicated to the same cause, he added.

Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel said the country had suffered irreparable loss by Amte's death.

Maharashtra Minister for Animal Husbandry Anees Ahmed and Minister for Textiles Satish Chaturvedi have also condoled Baba's death.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Maharashtra unit president Nitin Gadkari said Baba Amte's death had created a vacuum that could never be filled up.

Former MP Banwarilal Purohit said Baba's death had left an unfathomable void not only in the Indian society but also in the world community. He was a global citizen in the true sense and the world would never be the same now that he was gone forever, he added.

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