PM Modi said India would never forget Arjan Singh's excellent leadership in the 1965 war
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday led the nation in mourning
the demise of war hero Marshal Arjan Singh and hailed his role in the 1965 India-Pakistan conflict.
Ninety-eight-year-old Singh died this evening at a hospital in the national capital after suffering a cardiac arrest.
"Sad at demise of a great air warrior & Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh. Condolences to his family & IAF community.
"Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh was a WW II hero & won our nation's gratitude for his military leadership in 1965 war," President Kovind said in a series of tweets.
PM Modi said India would never forget his excellent leadership in the 1965 war when the Indian Air Force saw substantial action.
"India mourns the unfortunate demise of Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh. We remember his outstanding service to the nation," he tweeted.
The prime minister said the determined focus of Arjan Singh, who was promoted to the five-star rank of Marshal of the Air Force in 2002, on capacity building in the IAF added great strength to India's defence capabilities.
"India will never forget the excellent leadership of Arjan Singh in 1965, when the IAF saw substantial action," he said.
PM Modi also recalled how the ageing war hero remained a consummate soldier till the very end.
"Sometime back I met him, who despite his ill health tried to get up to salute even though I said no. Such was his soldier discipline," he said.
The Prime Minister said his thoughts were with Arjan Singh's family and those mourning the demise of the distinguished air warrior and a fine human being.
Besides them, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, BJP chief Amit Shah and chief Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala were among those who condoled the death of the war veteran.
"It is very rare for any country to have a soldier of that kind of credentials. It is a great loss for the country," Ms Sitharaman said.
She too remembered how the war hero would always comport himself like a true soldier.
"I have seen him standing up and saluting the president and prime minister in official functions. He would never forget the decorum of a much-acclaimed soldier who knew what it takes to be in the armed forces," the defence minister said.
Mr Rajnath said he was deeply pained at Singh's demise.
"Marshal of the IAF, Arjan Singh lived his life like a soldier. The tales of his courage will remain immortal. Deeply pained at his demise.
"My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members of Shri Arjan Singh. May God give them strength to bear this colossal loss," the home minister said.
Mr Jaitley said Arjan Singh was one of the country's greatest soldiers in recent memory.
"Condolences on the sad demise of Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh ji. He was one of the greatest soldiers in the recent memory (sic).
"My thoughts & prayers are with the family of Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh ji. A grateful nation will miss him," the finance minister said on Twitter.
Mr Shah, meanwhile, hailed Arjan Singh's rich contribution to the motherland.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)