New Delhi, Nov 27 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has expressed grief at the demise of the former Prime Minister V. P. Singh.

The Prime Minister said he is deeply saddened to learn about the demise of V. P. Singh. In his death India has lost a great patriot and a builder of our nation whose empathy for the weaker sections would always be etched in our national consciousness.

He further added that as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and later as the Finance Minister and the Prime Minister of India he consistently strove to translate his convictions into public policy.

Even after being afflicted with a debilitating disease, he continued to be at the forefront of the struggle for social justice.

Janata Dal leader V. P. Singh died at the Apollo Hospital here on Thursday after a long illness. He was 77 and is survived by his wife Sita Kumari and two sons Ajeya and Abhai.

Born on June 25, 1931, Singh was the tenth Prime Minister of the country from December 2, 1989 to November 10, 1990.

Singh gained wide publicity for his decision to implement the recommendations of the Mandal Commission which suggested that a fixed quota of all jobs in the public sector be reserved for members of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

This controversial decision led to widespread protests by youth in urban areas across north India.

In 1957, Singh took part in the Bhoodan-Aandolan and donated his farmhouse of Pasana Village (Allahabad). (ANI)