Shekhawat, 87, passes away

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Former chief minister and former vice-president of India Bhairon Singh Shekhawat passed away on Saturday in Jaipur after an illness of a couple of days. He is survived by his wife Suraj Kanwar and daughter Ratan.

The funeral will take place on Sunday with full state honours. The state government has declared three days of state mourning. Chief minister Ashok Gehlot described his death a big loss.
Shekhawat, 87, breathed his last at Jaipur’s SMS Hospital at 11.10 am on Saturday. He was suffering from a lung infection and other ailments and had been admitted to hospital two days ago after complaining of uneasiness.
Mr Gehlot immediately rushed to the hospital to console the family members of the stalwart.
His body was taken to his residence in Jaipur’s Civil Lines where a large number of people from all walks of life converged to pay homage.
“We all are in shock. He dedicated his life to the development of the state,” said Mr Gehlot. “Even during his illness he was always worried about the progress of the state and discussed various subjects when I called on him,” said the chief minister.
Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje also expressed shock over the demise of the former vice-president, saying it was a personal loss.
Shekhawat served the state thrice as chief minister. He won his first Assembly election in 1952 and was member of the House eight times. Mr Shekhawat as CM is credited with introducing schemes like Antyodya Yojna for the poor in the state. He raised his voice against the “Jageer system”.
Shekhawat was also known for his progressive views and opposed the practice of sati vociferously. When Rajput woman Roop Kanwar was forced to commit sati and the Rajput Samaj took out a big street procession, it was Shekhawat who stood against sati.
“He was a man of principle. He never compromised with his principles, that was the reason he mustered the courage to oppose sati,” said BJP MLA Rajpal Singh Shekhawat. Congress leader Lokendra Kalvi also echoed the same sediments and described Shekhawat as a visionary.
His ancestral village Kachariyawas, in Sikar district, received the news of Shekhawat’s death with shock and grief. Shekhawat born October 23, 1923 in the village and rose to be vice-president of India.
Shekhawat’s son-in-law Narpat Singh Rajvi, a BJP MLA, said it was a big loss to the family.