Sonia Gandhi, Uttam Kumar Reddy Condole Colonel's Death

AICC President Sonia Gandhi today conveyed her condolences to the wife, Santoshi, of Colonel Santosh Babu who was martyred during a fight with Chinese troops at the Indo-Chinese border.

She wrote a personal letter to the widow. In the letter, she said, "I am deeply grieved at the loss of your beloved husband, Colonel Santosh, who lost his life defending our motherland. His sacrifice, his patriotism and his bravery will never be forgotten, and we will always honour his memory."

Gandhi also said that she was sharing Santoshi's pain from the bottom of her heart. "At this time of grief, words are of little consolation, but I wanted to tell you that I share your pain with all my heart. You must draw solace from the fact that your husband lived his life with the utmost honour, devotion to duty and lived for his country. I join every Indian today in paying homage to your husband, a heroic son of India, whose death is deeply mourned by the whole nation (sic)," she added.

Gandhi's man in Telangana, TPCC President & MP N Uttam Kumar Reddy, personally visited the residence of the late Colonel in Suryapet and handed over the letter, as also a similar one by Rahul Gandhi.

Accompanied by his wife Padmavathi Reddy, former minister Damodar Reddy, DCC President Venkanna Yadav and others, Uttam Kumar Reddy spent about an hour with the parents and family members of Colonel Babu, and offered his own condolences.

The TPCC chief offered all possible help and support to the family in the years to come.

"Consider us as your family members, and we will always be there for you," Reddy told Col Babu's parents B Upender and Manjula.

The TPCC Chief, along with other Congress leaders, will attend the funeral of Col Babu in Suryapet on Thursday.