Prime Minister of India - Dr. Manmohan Singh

PM condoles the passing away of Siddhartha Shankar Ray

The Prime Minister has condoled the passing away of former West Bengal Chief Minister Siddhartha Shankar Ray. In a condolence message to the late leader's wife Mrs. Maya Ray, Dr. Manmohan Singh described Shri Ray as one who contributed immensely to the processes of nation building.

The text of the prime Minister's condolence message is as follows:

"I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing away of your husband Shri Siddhartha Shankar Ray.

Shri Siddhartha Shankar Ray had a very long public career in which he contributed immensely to the processes of nation building in a variety of ways. A prominent barrister, he started his political career as a Cabinet Minister in West Bengal in the late fifties and was later the Chief Minister of the state from 1972 to 1977. As Chief Minister of West Bengal, Shri Ray played a key role in tackling the naxalite problem and in the rehabilitation of refugees from Bangladesh . He also served as Union Education Minister and Governor of Punjab. As the Indian Ambassador to the United States in the early nineties, he contributed to the strengthening of Indo-US ties.

In Shri Ray's death, we have lost a staunch nationalist, a modernist and a widely respected leader, whose work spanned a diverse range of areas in public life. I will always remember him as a senior colleague of the Indian National Congress and a very valued friend.

On this sad occasion, I extend my heartfelt condolences to you and to all other near and dear ones of Shri Ray. May God give you the strength to bear with this irreparable loss. I pray for peace of the departed soul."