Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that in the death of Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister A R Antulay the country has lost a "distinguished public servant who showed great sensitivity in dealing with concerns of the poor."
"In his demise, I have lost a dear friend whom I regarded as an elder brother," Singh said.
He said Antulay "showed great concerns for the poor and the downtrodden sections of society" and was one of the senior-most leaders of Congress who served the party with great sincerity.
"In his death the country has lost a distinguished public servant who served our people with great dedication," Singh added.
Antulay (85), the first Muslim Chief Minister of Maharashtra, died in Mumbai yesterday after prolonged illness.
