Former Guj Minister dies at Gandhidham

Gandhinagar, June 26 (UNI) Congress leader and former Gujarat Minister for civil supplies and law minister Navinbhai Shashtri died this afternoon at Gandhidham.

He was 70.

He is survived by his wife, Ramaben, two sons, Piyush and Kalpesh, and three daughters.

According to a report, Shashtri died of cardiac arrest at the circuit in Gandhidham town in Kutch region at 1430 hours.

His body will be brought from Gandhidham to his residence in Sector-2 here by tonight. The funeral will be held tomorrow.

Gujarat Governor Nawalkishore Sharma and Chief Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound grief and shock over the sad demise of Shashtri.

In his message, Mr Sharma said Shashtri was a social reformer and leader of the poor. He dedicated his life in serving the poor. The void created with his sad demise would never be filled.

Shashtri's death was also condoled by Congress President Ms Sonia Gandhi, Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, Gujarat Legislative Assembly's Leader of Opposition Arjun Modhvadia and others, a Congress party statement said here.

UNI MP KU MA KN2322