Former Gujarat speaker Natwarlal Shah passes away

Ahmedabad, July 9 (UNI) Senior Congress leader and former speaker of Gujarat assembly Natwarlal Shah passed away at his Khokhra residence here today.

He was 85.

In a condolence message, Leader of the opposition in state assembly Arjun Modhwadia said Shah, who was the speaker between 1980 and 1985 and later from 1985 to 1990, was a firm believer in democratic traditions and values.

GPCC chief Bharatsinh Solanki, in his message, said Shah was a samajwadi (socialist) at heart and was committed to the uplift of the poor. During his tenure as the GPCC chief, he always took everyone along with him without imposing his view on anyone.

Congress has lost an able leader, he added.

In a meeting, the GPCC also condoled the death of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, who died in New Delhi yesterday.

UNI