New Delhi, Nov 23 (UNI) Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have expressed deep grief and shock over the demise of senior party leader and former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
In his condolence message to Mr Gogoi's wife, Dr Singh said 'I am in a shock to learn about Shri Tarun Gogoi's untimely demise. Mr Gogoi attained heights in politics with his hard work. He was a Lok Sabha MP for six terms and record three times elected as the CM of Assam. Shri Gogoi was a very popular leader of Assam. Me and my wife are with you in this hour of crisis and offer our condolences.'
In a condolence message to Gogoi's son Gaurav Gogoi, party chief Sonia Gandhi said 'It is with great grief that I learnt of the passing away of your beloved father. Shri Tarun Gogoi was one of the tallest leaders of the Congress party, admired and respected for his extraordinary wisdom, vision and ability. With his long years of experience as an MLA, an MP, a Central Minister and Chief Minister of Assam, he was someone to whose unfailingly wise counsel and advice we could always turn to. I know in what great regard Smt Indira Gandhi and Shri Rajiv Gandhi held him. For me, his loss is also a deeply personal one -- I cannot forget the warmth and care he showed me on my many visits to Assam.'