PM expresses grief over Panja's death

New Delhi, Nov 15 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today expressed grief at the demise of veteran leader and former Minister Ajit Panja.

In a message here, the Prime Minister said Panja, who died yesterday, was a prominent leader of the country who had the distinction of representing the people in Parliament for six terms and served the country with distinction as Union Minister holding a number of key portfolios.

Dr Singh also described him as a man of the arts whose impressive performance as Ramakrishna Paramahansa in the play Nati Binodini earned him recognition and admiration at the national level.

''In his death, the country has lost a well known personality whose contribution to our public life would be long remembered,'' the Prime Minister said.

''I extend my heartfelt condolences to the members of his bereaved family and to all those who followed him and respected him as their friend and valued leader,'' he said.

UNI NAZ KK RN1319