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Sonia says Prasada will be 'deeply missed'

Congress president Sonia Gandhi said senior Congress leader Jitendra Prasada, who died at Apollo Hospital Tuesday morning, had made immense contributions to the party.

"His contributions to the party, including the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, were immense. We will deeply miss him," Sonia told reporters after paying homage to Prasada at his residence.

Earlier in the day, she presided over a Congress Working Committee meeting where Prasada's death was condoled. She then led the entire working committee to Prasada's residence.

Prasada had thrown the party into a deep crisis when he challenged Sonia's leadership during last year's party elections.

"This is a very sad day for the Congress party. In the last few months the party has lost three of its stalwarts -- first it was Rajesh Pilot, then Sitaram Kesri and now Prasada," she said, adding it was only a few days ago he was with all of us when he attended a CWC meeting.

Sonia described Prasada as a "committed and traditional" Congressman who served the organisation with devotion.

Besides CWC members and other senior leaders, chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Chhatisgarh paid their homage to the departed leader.

PTI

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Prasada to be cremated in Shajahanpur
Congressmen finally give the 'rebel' his due

TRIBUTES
Prasada was a valiant leader: Anand Sharma
He was not a rebel in any sense of the word: Motilal Vora

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