Balram Jakhar enriched parliamentary democracy: Narendra Modi

New Delhi, Feb 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed grief over the death of Congress veteran Balram Jakhar, saying he had enriched parliamentary democracy.

"Balram Jakhar ji was a popular leader who enriched our parliamentary democracy in his long political journey. Saddened by his demise," Modi tweeted.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi also expressed her condolences on the death of the former union minister here.

"The Congress party and the nation will forever remember the contributions made by him during the course of his long public life, particularly to the cause of farming community," she said.

"Be it as a legislator, parliamentarian, minister, speaker or governor, Jakhar forever remained at the forefront in taking up issues concerning agriculture and farmers and his role in modernising the parliament secretariat was pioneering," she added.

The former Lok Sabha Speaker was ailing for over a year following a brain stroke. He suffered respiratory arrest last month. He was 92. He is survived by two sons and two daughters.

IANS