Former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral passed away this afternoon in New Delhi after prolonged illness. He was 92. Mr Gujral was the 12th Prime Minister of the country. Born on 4th December, 1919 in Jhelum in the undivided Punjab, now in Pakistan, Mr Gujral participated in India's freedom struggle. He was also jailed in 1942 during the Quit India Movement. Mr Gujral was Information and Broadcasting Minister in 1975 and served as Minister of External Affairs in the V P Singh government. He became Prime Minister on 21st April, 1997 and remained at the post till 19th March, 1998. During this tenure, Mr Gujral propounded the doctrine for better relations with the neighbouring countries which is known as “Gujral Doctrine”.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has condoled the death of Mr Gujral. Dr Singh spoke to his son and Rajya Sabha MP, Naresh Gujral. Dr Singh said that Mr Gujral was a man of peace, an idealist who lived by his principles and an intellectual with the human touch.

The body of Mr. Gujral will be kept for public to pay respects at his residence at Janpath in central Delhi tomorrow morning and will be cremated at 3 pm near Samta Sthal, the memorial of late Jagjivan Ram. According to highly placed sources, a seven days' state mourning has been announced by the Centre.