Veteran Gujarat Congress leader Sanat Mehta dead
Vadodara (Gujarat), Aug 20 (IANS) Veteran Congress leader and former Gujarat finance minister Sanat Mehta died at his home late Thursday, a family member said. He was 90.
Mehta is survived by his son Sheetal and daughter Shyamali. His wife Aruna, a teacher, had passed away a few years ago.
"He was very healthy and active but suffered a heart attack late Tuesday. He was rushed to the Globe Hospital and kept on ventilator. The ventilator was removed this morning and he was brought home where he breathed his last around 7 p.m.," son Sheetal told IANS.
A close aide and associate of three decades, Bharat Pathak said Mehta's last rites will be held at a crematorium in Manjalpur at 9 a.m. on Friday.
Born in Surendranagar, Mehta was a science graduate and started his career as a union leader. Becoming an active Congress worker, he took part in the Indian freedom struggle as a youth and was jailed several times.
After Independence, he continued his social-political activities and was elected the local municipal councillor in 1954.
From 1967 to 1985, he served four consecutive terms as legislator from Surendranagar.
In 1972, he was appointed labour minister in the Ghanshyam Oza government and in 1980, became the state finance minister in the Madhavsinh Solanki cabinet and and is considered among the most successful to hold the portfolio.
In 1990, Mehta was appointed the first chairman of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd, which ultimately contributed to making large tracts of dry regions into lush green fields with the waters of the Narmada canal networks.
Late Wednesday night, owing to some miscommunication, reports were carried in a section of the print, electronic and online media claiming he had died.
Terming it as unfortunate, his son said that contrary to expectations, Mehta survived nearly eight hours after he was removed off life-support systems around 11 a.m. on Thursday.
A large number of party activists, friends, admirers and members of the general public turned up at the Mehta home this evening as news of his death spread.
Top leaders from the centre and state as well as Congress leaders have condoled the death of Mehta.