The demise of former President Pranab Mukherjee was mourned by the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) here on Tuesday.
Presiding over a meeting, PCC president Niranjan Patnaik said Mukherjee was a not only a great politician, he was also an impartial leader.
Former Chief Minister Hemananda Biswal said the country has lost a great statesman. As the First Citizen, he continued to connect with everyone, bringing Rashtrapati Bhavan closer to the people. His decision to discontinue the use of the honorific 'His Excellency' was historic.
Former MP Rama Chandra Khnutia said the former President loved Odisha and Lord Jagannath was his presiding deity. Whenever he came to Odisha he had a darshan of the Lord. Various other party leaders also paid homage to the departed leader.