Prime Minister of India - Dr. Manmohan Singh

PM condoles the passing away of former Foreign Secretary Jagat Mehta

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohgan Singh has condoled the passing away of former Foreign  Secretary Shri Jagat Mehta. The Prime Minister in his condolence message paid tributes to Shri Mehta's service to the nation saying few countries have faced such formidable external challenges as India did in its early decades as an independent nation and it is to the credit of diplomats like Shri Mehta that India came out not only stronger and more self-assured but also fulfilled its responsibility in seeking a more peaceful and equitable world.

The text of the Prime Minister's condolence message is as follows:-
 
"I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing away of Shri Jagat Mehta.

Shri Mehta was among the most eminent in a generation of distinguished public servants who steered our country in the aftermath of Independence and worked assiduously to fulfill the aspirations of a young nation. Few countries have faced such formidable external challenges as India did in its early decades as an independent nation and it is to the credit of diplomats like Shri Mehta that India came out not only stronger and more self-assured, but also fulfilled its responsibility in seeking a more peaceful and equitable world.

Shri Mehta's distinguished career in the Indian Foreign Service was capped by a well deserved tenure as Foreign Secretary of India. The nation rightly expressed its gratitude to him by conferring on him the Padma Bhushan in 2002. He also excelled as a scholar and author on international relations and his writings made a lasting contribution to our understanding of issues of importance for India's foreign policy. I greatly cherish my own association with him.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family in this hour of grief. My wife joins me in conveying our deepest condolences to his family, friends and numerous admirers."