On behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and on my own behalf, I deeply mourn the passing away of former Prime Minister, Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao ji, in New Delhi today. In his demise, India has lost a scholar-politician of great eminence and also one of the few remaining links between the glorious era of the Freedom Movement and the present times. His role in the struggle against Nizam's tyranny and the liberation of Hyderabad, which was an integral part of the Freedom Movement, is as notable as his later contributions as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and in various ministries at the Centre.

Destiny had placed on him the onerous responsibility of assuming the reins of governance at a particularly difficult and tragic moment in our country's history. He rose to the occasion against great odds. He not only led a stable government at the Centre for full five years, but also inaugurated the era of much-needed economic reforms in India.

In this hour of national mourning, my mind is crowded with many personal memories of my interactions with Shri Narasimha Raoji. He had a quiet old-worldly charm about him. He believed in, and upheld the values of consensus politics.

I send my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved members of Shri Narasimha Raoji's family.