By IANS,
New Delhi : The All India Congress Committee (AICC) Wednesday passed a condolence resolution to pay tribute to former union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, describing him as a leader who rose to high posts from grassroots panchayati organisations.
The meeting of AICC office bearers was held after the tricolour was hoisted by party president Sonia Gandhi at a simple function at the party headquarters here to mark Independence Day.
The function was attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and several union ministers, including Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Defence Minister A.K. Antony, besides Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi.
The AICC resolution said: “Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh started his public life from grassroots panchayati raj organisations and reached high posts. He discharged his responsibilities as a state minister, chief minister and union minister with dexterity. He kept making progress by being balanced and natural in every situation. His sudden and untimely demise is not only a big loss to Maharashtra and the Congress but to the whole country. His loss will be felt for a long time.”