President, PM mourn Patel

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 12. The President, Mr. K.R. Narayanan, the Vice- President, Mr. Krishan Kant, the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, and the Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr. G.M.C. Balayogi, today expressed their condolences on the death of the former Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr. J.H. Patel.

Mr. Narayanan described Mr. Patel as a leader with outstanding qualities who distinguished himself through service to people, especially the poor and the downtrodden.

"His significant contributions to the welfare of Karnataka, as a public person, as well as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, will be long remembered," the President's message said.

The Vice-President said Mr. Patel had distinguished himself as a mass leader, an able legislator and administrator whose dedicated service to the people of the State would always be remembered.

The Prime Minister recalled that Mr. Patel, a freedom fighter, had given up his legal profession to join the Socialist Party and had supported the cause of the poor and the downtrodden throughout his life.

Mr. Balayogi said Mr. Patel had made significant contribution to nation-building, particularly to the development of Karnataka and remembered the late leader as an affable person who had won friends cutting across party lines.

The Union Minister for Rural Development, Mr. M. Venkaiah Naidu, said Mr. Patel had endeared himself to one and all by his warm and affectionate nature and described him as an outstanding socialist and true follower of Ram Manohar Lohia and Jayaprakash Narayan.

The former prime minister, Mr. H.D. Deve Gowda, and his Janata Dal (Secular) party said Mr. Patel was a versatile personality and one who stood for the emancipation of the oppressed and the weaker sections of the people without compromise. "He was one of the progressive leaders whose long struggle ultimately culminated in implementing the land reforms in Karnataka as a model for others,'' the party said.

The Janata Dal (United) today held a condolence meeting at its party office here which was chaired by the party President and Civil Aviation Minister, Mr. Sharad Yadav, in which he recalled the contribution of Mr. Patel. As a mark of respect, the party flag was also flown at half-mast. Mr. Yadav said in Mr. Patel's demise the party had lost a dynamic leader who was dedicated to the cause of the poor.

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