The following is the statement issued by the CITU on January 3: THE Centre of Indian Trade Unions is extremely grieved at the sad demise of Comrade A B Bardhan, veteran leader of the working class movement in our country and a senior stalwart of the Indian communist movement. He passed away on January 2, 2016 after prolonged illness. He was ninety two year old. Com Bardhan joined public life in his early age through the student movement. He is one of the senior most leaders of the Communist Party of India and led CPI as its general secretary from 2006 to 2012. He played a crucial role in developing united Left movement. He also led the trade union movement as a frontline leader of the AITUC. He was closely associated with many industry-based unions like railways, textiles and defence and the trade union movement in the electricity sector in particular. He was elected to the Maharashtra assembly in 1957. He was the general secretary of AITUC and contributed immensely in developing united movement of the working class against exploitation and for defending rights and interests of the working people. He took much interest in developing the National Platform of Mass organisations (NPMO), a broad platform of class and mass organisations against the neo-liberal policies. A widely respected leader, he remained active till the last days of his life. His demise caused irreparable loss to the working class movement and the Communist movement. CITU mourns the passing away of the veteran leader, pays tributes to his memory and conveys heartfelt condolences to the bereaved comrades and to his family members.