President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday expressed deep sorrow and grief over the death of veteran leader Jyoti Basu of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and termed it a great loss. Jyoti Basu, 95, a popular political figure was known as a crusader against communalism, fundamentalism, and a warrior for social justice and equality. He died on Sunday after prolonged ailment.

Paying tributes to his political acumen and contribution towards development of West Bengal, President Asif Ali described him as a great statesman and termed his death as a great loss to India. Basu served as the Chief Minister of West Bengal from 1977 to 2000, for five-term, making him India's longest-serving Chief Minister of any Indian state. Jyoti Basu was among the prominent leaders who had the reputation for taking fiercely independent positions.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2010