New Delhi, May 29: The President and the Prime Minister today led the nation in condoling the death of Savita Ambedkar in Mumbai, saying she was a great social worker contributing for the uplift of the downtrodden. In his message, President A P J Abdul Kalam said she symbolised the virtues of dedication and sacrifice and was able to work for the uplift of the downtrodden while being at the side of the architect of our constitution, the late Babasaheb Ambedkar.

In a condolence message from Berlin, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee described her as "a great social worker, in her own right, who remained dedicated to the task of upliftment of the weaker sections of the society. Her death has caused a void which will be difficult to fill".

"Savitaji was the principal source of inspiration to a legendary personality like Dr B R Ambedkar who played a pivotal role in framing the Constitution," he said.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi said "Mai's" presence and guidance would be missed by everybody.

"I was saddened to learn this morning of the passing away of Mrs Savita Ambedkar, wife of Dr B R Ambedkar. The presence and guidance of 'Mai', as she was fondly called, will be dearly missed by all", Gandhi said.

In a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Gandhi asked him to convey her condolences and feelings of empathy of her (Savita) supporters, friends and admirers at this hour of bereavement.

Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi, in his condolence message from Lisbon where he is leading an Indian parliamentary delegation, said that "Mai" dedicated her life for fulfilling the dreams of Dr B R Ambedkar by uplifting the poor and downtrodden.

Bureau Report