New Delhi: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on March 26 termed as "dastardly and cowardly" the killing of former Gujarat Home Minister Haren Pandya and said his departure has left a void, which would be difficult to fill.

It was unfortunate that a young and promising career had been cut short by such dastardly and cowardly act of violence, Vajpayee, who spoke to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi immediately after getting the news of Pandya's killing in Ahmedabad, said.

Pandya was a popular political and social leader of Gujarat and he was known for his zeal and commitment to the welfare of the masses, the Prime Minister added.

PTI