Advani, Rajnath Singh condole Tapan Sikdar's demise

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L K Advani and Union Home Minister and BJP president Rajnath Singh on Monday expressed grief over the demise of Tapan Sikdar.

"He was an important member of the Bengal BJP. Whatever the party has achieved is because of such people's efforts. I extend my heartiest condolences on the demise of Tapan Sikdar to his family," Adavni said.

Sikdar, 70, one of the tallest leaders of BJP's Bengal unit, was admitted at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on May 29. He died there this morning.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also condoled Sikdar's death and termed his loss as heavy to the party.

"With his demise the party has suffered heavily and I hope that the almighty gives his family all courage to withstand this huge loss at this time," Rajnath Singh said.

Sikdar, a two- time Lok Sabha member, had served as a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajapyee Government from 1999 to 2004.