Parrikar condoles demise of General K.V. Krishna Rao

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday expressed his condolences on the passing away of the former Chief of Army Staff General K.V. Krishna Rao in New Delhi today.

In his message, Parrikar said "In the passing away of General K.V. Krishna Rao, the country has lost one of its best known military leaders. He was a visionary who led ably, inspired a generation of soldiers and initiated modernization of the Indian Army in the early 1980s. His contribution in the 1971 war and maintaining the unity and integrity of the country shall always be remembered".

General Krishna Rao was appointed as Chief of Army Staff on June 1, 1981 and served in that capacity till July 1983.

He was also Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, the highest appointment in the Services, during March 1982 to July 1983.

From June 1984 to July 1989, General Krishna Rao was the Governor of the North Eastern States of Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura.

He was also the Governor of Mizoram in June 1988 and March to July 1989.

Later, General Krishna Rao was appointed as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir during 1989-90.

When a proxy war developed in Jammu and Kashmir and reached its peak, he was reappointed as Governor and served there from March 1993 to May 1998.

In this capacity, he was instrumental in restoring peace and democracy in the insurgency-driven state.