Scholar par excellence, towering statesman who always blessed me: PM Modi pays tribute to Pranab Mukherjee

Expressing grief over former president Pranab Mukherjee's demise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday described him as a scholar par excellence and a towering statesman who was admired across the political spectrum.

Modi said Mukherjee has left an indelible mark on the nation's development trajectory. Mukherjee, 84, died on Monday in an army hospital here, his son Abhijit Mukherjee said. He was admitted to the hospital on August 10.

In a series of tweets, the prime minister said Mukherjee in his decades-long political journey made long-lasting contributions in key economic and strategic ministries and that he was an outstanding parliamentarian, always well-prepared, extremely articulate as well as witty.

The prime minister recalled that Mukherjee, as the then President when he became prime minister for the first time, always supported and guided him.

"I was new to Delhi in 2014. From Day 1, I was blessed to have the guidance, support and blessings of Shri Pranab Mukherjee. I will always cherish my interactions with him. Condolences to his family, friends, admirers and supporters across India. Om Shanti," Modi said.

In his tweets, Modi also posted his pictures with Mukherjee, including one in which he is seen touching the then president's feet.

As India's President, Mukherjee made Rashtrapati Bhavan even more accessible to common citizens, Modi noted, adding that he made the President's House "a centre of learning, innovation, culture, science and literature".

His wise counsel on key policy matters will never be forgotten by him, the prime minister said.

"India grieves the passing away of Bharat Ratna Shri Pranab Mukherjee. He has left an indelible mark on the development trajectory of our nation. A scholar par excellence, a towering statesman, he was admired across the political spectrum and by all sections of society," he said.