President Patil mourns Venkataraman's death

President Pratibha Patil mourned former president R Venkataraman's death and said the nation has lost "a true patriot and a distinguished luminary”.

President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday mourned former president R Venkataraman's death and said the nation has lost "a true patriot and a distinguished luminary”.

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In her condolence message, she said he was a great parliamentarian and freedom fighter who actively participated in the Quit India Movement. “In his passing away, the nation has lost a true patriot and a distinguished luminary,” she added.

The former president passed away at the the Army Research and Referral Hospital on Tuesday following prolonged illness. He was 98.

Venkataraman was the eighth president of the country serving from 1987 to 1992. Earlier, he served as vice-president of the country for nearly four years.

Recalling her association with the former president, Patil said: “I will always remember my personal interactions with him, especially when I was the deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. He served with distinction in various capacities in public life and ultimately rose to occupy the highest office of the nation.”