The Prime Minister has condoled the passing away of veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister Shri B. Shankaranand. The Prime Minister in a condolence message, to the leader's son Shri Om Prakash Kanagali, said we have lost a leader whose contribution to the cause of the poor and the downtrodden will long be remembered.

The Prime Minister's condolence message is as follows:

"It is with great sadness that I learnt of the demise of your father Shri B. Shankaranand.

Shri Shankaranand was a veteran Congress leader who served his country and people with great distinction in a long public career. He was a Minister in the Central Government under three Prime Ministers and distinguished himself as a Member of Parliament for seven consecutive terms. In Shri Shankaranand's passing away, we have lost a leader whose contribution to the cause of the poor and underprivileged will long be remembered.

On this sad occasion, I extend my heartfelt condolences to you and other members of the bereaved family, and to all those who looked up to him for guidance and leadership. I pray for peace of the departed soul."