Gowda mourns Karnataka JD (S) Chief

New Delhi, Oct 8 (UNI) Janata Dal (Secular) President and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda today expressed shock at the untimely death of M D Mirajuddin Patel, President of Karnataka unit of the party at Gulbarga last night.

Stating that Patel's death was an irrepairable personal loss, Mr Gowda said the leader was a strong piller of JD(S) in the state, launching a crusade against the recent incidents of violence against minority community in Karnataka.

He was a leader with mass appeal in the party and had vision to make the JD(S) a forum of depressed sections of society where minorities were an integral part, he added.

Continuing the struggle against the 'communal and exploitative' forces would be the most fitting tribute the party can pay for strenghtening the national unity and integrity, Mr Gowda said in a statement.

Terming Patel as a 'grassroot level leader', the JD(S) President said he was an epitome of secular values and a leader with sincere commitment for the cause of the poor. His cosmopolitan outlook combined with pragmatism and principled views had made him a beacon light to the minorities and marginalised sections of society.

''I pray to the almighty to bless the departed soul with eternal peace and provide his family members and lakhs of party workers the courage to bear the loss.

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