Ranchi, Aug. 16 -- Congress leader Rajesh Thakur condoled the demise of Jharkhand's education minister Ramdas Soren, who passed away while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Delhi on Friday.

Calling his demise an irreparable loss, Thakur said Soren was a straightforward, simple, polite, and honest person and was working sincerely in the field of education.

"This is sad news for us and an irreparable loss for the entire state. He was a straightforward, simple, polite, and honest person who worked sincerely in the field of education. He was making efforts to bring about better reforms in education... He suddenly collapsed and then remained in the hospital for a long time, but when the news of his demise came, it was certainly sad news ...