Reddy constantly worked to strengthen secular foundations of India: Yechury

New Delhi: CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Sunday expressed grief on the death of former Union minister S Jaipal Reddy and said he consistently worked to strengthen the secular foundations of India. Yechury in a statement said that Reddy's death was a loss for the country. "I had a close association with him for nearly four decades. His passing away is a big loss for the secular democratic forces in the country," he tweeted. Reddy, 77, was recently diagnosed with pneumonia and was admitted to a hospital in Hyderabad, where he died at 1.28 am on Sunday. He was a parliamentarian for several decades and held key portfolios in various governments. He was a four-term MLA, member of Lok Sabha for five terms and member of Rajya Sabha for two terms.