M A I N   N E W S

V.N. Gadgil passes away
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Feb 6 — Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader V.N. Gadgil died in a city hospital early this morning following a cardiac arrest.

Mr Gadgil (71), who was ailing for sometime, was rushed to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) yesterday after he complained of illness. He was suffering from acute diabetes and some endocrinological problems. His end came at 4.10 a.m, family sources said. His body was brought to his Shahjahan Road residence and later flown to Pune. The cremation will take place tomorrow. He is survived by his wife Sunita, son Anant and daughter Archana.

Born on September 22, 1928, at Pune, Mr Gadgil represented Pune in the Lok Sabha for several terms. He was member of the Rajya Sabha from 1971 to 1980 and of the Lok Sabha from 1980 to 1991. He was again a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1994 to 2000.

Mr Gadgil served as Minister of State for Defence and Communications when Mrs Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister. He was Information and Broadcasting Minister in the Rajiv Gandhi Ministry. Mr Gadgil was the Congress spokesman for several years during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi, P.V. Narasimha Rao and Sitaram Kesri as party presidents. He continued as spokesman for a brief time when Mrs Sonia Gandhi became the party president. A good orator, Mr Gadgil won laurels in the party and outside for his handling of the media.

He was credited with setting up of the Indian Broadcasting (Programme) Service for Doordarshan and AIR. An advocate by profession, Mr Gadgil had authored several books on legal matters.

President K.R. Narayanan condoled the demise of Mr Gadgil. In a message to his wife, the President said, “It was with deep shock and distress that I learned about the passing away of your husband in the early hours of today. I mourn the death of a personal friend with whom I have had the occasion to interact closely for many years and whose erudition and aesthetic sense I have admired.”

Mrs Gandhi visited Mr Gadgil’s residence. Several other Congress leaders, including Mr Natwar Singh, Mr Shivraj Patil and Mr Balram Jakhar also visited Mr Gadgil’s residence.