India
LATE INDIRA GANDHI’S CLOSE CONFIDANTE R.K. DHAWAN DIES AT 81
The veteran Congress leader, union minister and a close confidante of the former prime minister Indira Gandhi and her personal special assistant from 1962 to 1984 till she met her sad end, R. K. Dhawan breathed his last today at the BL. Kapoor hospital in New Delhi at 7.00 PM after suffering from various age related ailments. R. K. Dhawan died at the age of 81 who’d married Achla in 2012 at the age of 73, the news that very few people know. Dhawan had been extremely close to late prime minister Indira Gandhi who was considered to be her eyes, ears and nose. Witness to the draconion emergency of 1975 to 1977 and the late prime minister’s brutal asssasination R. K Dhawan had been the prime witness in her assasination case and presented himself before various courts and commissions.
He remained the bachelor through out his life to serve Indira Gandhi and the Congress of which he was the general secretary and the member CWC in the later years during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. He was also the union minister of Works and Housing in PVR Narsimha Rao’s cabinet. Having been associated with the Congress party from 1960 till his death Dhawan remained an active Congressmen till a decade ago and had served the almost three generations of the Nehru family actively till Sonia Gandhi’s presidential tenure. He was immensely instrumental in the victory of the superstar turned politician from the New Delhi parliamentary constituency Rajesh Khanna in the nineties.
Several eminent political dignitories including the former President Pranav Mukerjee, Congress CM from Punjab Capt Amrinder Singh, Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewal and several other dignitories have condoled the sad demise of Mr. Dhawan. His tireless spirit, immeasurable commitment & untiring dedication to the Congress ideals will always be remembered. RIP,” Congress’ communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala tweeted.
The former president tweeted : Deeply shocked at passing away of Shri RK Dhawan. Though he was ailing I had never expected that the end will come so soon. A close associate and colleague in Party and Government, he will forever be fondly remembered.