Pant was India's defence minister between 1987 and 1989, when the Congress party was in power under then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
India's former defence minister and Planning Commission deputy chairman Krishna Chandra Pant died Thursday. He was 81.
On hearing about "the sad passing away" of Pant, Defence Minister AK Antony expressed "profound grief" and hailed him for steering the ministry at one of the most critical junctures of history when Indian forces were deployed in strife-torn Sri Lanka on a peacekeeping mission.
Pant was India's defence minister between 1987 and 1989, when the Congress party was in power under then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Pant was Defence Minister in Rajiv Gandhi's Cabinet when the CAG report on Bofors Howitzer acquisition was tabled in Parliament and defended the government during those troubled days.
However, he switched loyalties to BJP in 1998 when it emerged as the ruling party. His wife successfully contested from Nainital Lok Sabha constituency on a BJP ticket.
Pant himself became Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission in 2000 under the then Prime Minister A B Vajpayee who was the Chairman of the body.
Condoling the death of Pant, Antony said his contribution will be "fondly remembered" as he steered the Ministry at one of the most critical junctures of history.
"Pant steered the Ministry at one of the most critical junctures of history as the Indian Peace Keeping Forces were deployed in Sri Lanka as a stepping stone to the tortuous journey for peace in the island nation.
"The Indian troops were also deployed at short notice in Maldives to abort a coup attempt, in a clear manifestation of our commitment to the promotion of peace and stability in South Asian Region," he said.
Antony also remembered Pant as one who bolstered the armed forces in a big way with the acquisition of country's flagship aircraft carrier INS Viraat and MIG-29 aircraft among many other acquisitions. "He was also instrumental in the setting up of the first Coast Guard Air Station at Daman," Antony said.
Born in 1931 in Nainital, Pant was a post-graduate in science and joined Congress to enter politics. Pant first got elected to Lok Sabha in 1962 and was reelected in 1967, 1971 and 1989. Pant, who later became the Chairman of Tenth Finance Commission, was also elected to Rajya Sabha in 1978 and was Leader of the House during 1979-1980.
"The contribution of Pant will be fondly remembered by the countrymen. Pant steered the ministry at one of the most critical junctures of history as the Indian Peace Keeping Force was deployed in Sri Lanka as a stepping stone to the tortuous journey for peace in the island nation," Antony said in his message.
"The Indian troops were also deployed at short notice in the Maldives to abort a coup attempt, in a clear manifestation of our commitment to the promotion of peace and stability in south Asian region," he recalled.
Antony also noted that Pant bolstered the Indian armed forces in a big way with the acquisition of the country's flagship aircraft carrier INS Viraat, the erstwhile HMS Hermes of the British Royal Navy, and Russian-origin MiG-29 combat aircraft among many other acquisitions during his tenure as the defence minister.
He was also instrumental in the setting up of the first Coast Guard Air Station at Daman, Antony said, adding: "May his soul rest in peace."
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