National

He espoused cause of BCs: Gowda

BANGALORE: The former Prime Minister and national president of the Janata Dal (Secular), H.D. Deve Gowda, on Thursday expressed grief over the death of the former Prime Minister, V.P. Singh.

In a condolence message, Mr. Gowda said: “I am saddened to learn about the demise of V.P. Singh, who brought about radical changes in the nation’s socio-political-economic scenario with his strident espousal of the cause of backward communities and probity in public life.”

Mr. Gowda said, though in office as Prime Minister for less than a year his visit to the Golden Temple to seek forgiveness for the Operation Blue Star and withdrawal of Indian Peace Keeping Force from Sri Lanka were widely appreciated by all peace loving people.

Though a Rajput himself, Mr. Singh earned the ire of the upper caste youth by deciding to implement the Mandal Commission recommendations, which provided job reservations for Other Backward Classes. The decision did cost him his job but changed the nation’s socio-political scenario forever.

He said Mr. Singh’s contribution to Indian politics would be etched in golden letters. In his death, the nation and particularly the large Janata Parivar lost a champion of the downtrodden and the underprivileged.

“I offer my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and pray to the Almighty to bless his soul with peace and give strength and courage to his near and dear ones to bear this irreparable loss”.

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