Orissa Assembly pays tribute to V P Singh, adjourned for the day

Bhubaneswar, Nov 28 (UNI) The Orissa Assembly today condoled the demise of former Prime Minister V P Singh and adjourned the House for the day after adopting the obituary reference in the House.

As the House assembled for the day, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik moved the obituary reference on the passing away of Mr Singh and paid tributes to the departed soul.

Leader of Opposition J B Pattnaik said Mr Singh had united all the anti-Congress forces in the country and implemented the Mandal Commission.

BJP legislature party leader B B Harichandan said Mr Singh, who held important portfolios in the Union Ministry before becoming the Prime Minister, had exposed the Bofors deal.

NCP MLA Arun De described Mr Singh as an iconic leader and a ''tragic hero'' of Indian politics.

The Assembly later observed one-minute silence to pay tribute to the departed soul after which Speaker Kishore Mohanty adjourned the House for the day as a mark of respect to the former Prime Minister.

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