Former Assembly Deputy Speaker and State Planning Board Member Rama Chandra Panda expressed his grief on the death of the former Union Defence Minister George Fernandes.
In a message, Panda described Fernandes as an upright Minister, an effective administrator, a man of simple living, a firm believer of democracy and a fiery trade union leader “Fernandes together with Moraji Desai, AB Vajpayee, Biju Patnaik and Charan Singh was in the forefront of JP Movement and during emergency, he was in Gopalpur at his father in law's house, where I had informed Fernandes about declaration of emergency in early morning as a reporter. When he heard the news, he condemned the move,” told Panda.