The Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has expressed deep grief on the demise of former Chief Minister of Karnataka and former Union Minister Shri Ramkrishna Hegde.

Recalling his long association with Shri Hegde, Shri Vajpayee said that in Shri Hegde’s death the country has lost a popular leader who had firm grasp of the aspirations of masses. Under his stewardship Karnataka scaled unprecedented heights, later he left his mark on the national scene as Union Minister, Shri Vajpayee added.