New Delhi, May 9 :  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed grief over the demise of renowned sculptor and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Raghunath Mohapatra.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, “Saddened by the demise of MP Shri Raghunath Mohapatra Ji. He made pioneering contributions to the world of art, architecture and culture. He will be remembered for his contributions towards popularising traditional crafts. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. Om Shanti.”

The BJP Rajya Sabha MP died this afternoon while undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at

the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. He was 78.

Mohapatra, a recipient of Padma Shri in 1975, Padma Bhushan in 2001 and Padma Vibhushan in 2013, was admitted to the hospital after he tested Covid positive.

He was born on March 23,1943 at Puri and was a member of the Rajya Sabha since 2018.(UNI)