Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has condoled the passing away of Senior Congress leader of Rajasthan and former Union Minister Bhuvnesh Chaturvedi.
In his condolence message, Dr. Singh said: "I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing away of Bhuvnesh Chaturvedi. In his passing away, I have lost a personal friend of long standing. "
"Chaturvedi was a committed Congressman who held important positions in the party, as also in the State and Union Governments. We have lost a patriotic leader who was committed to the well-being of the people and who served the country with distinction. I pray for peace for his soul," he added.
Chaturvedi passed away at a private hospital in Kota, Rajasthan yesterday after a prolonged illness. He was 85.
Elected to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan for three consecutive terms from 1982 to 2000, Chaturvedi was Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) during then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao's tenure. He served as a member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from 1972-77.