Ex-Goa Congress MP Shantaram Naik passes away, Rahul condoles
Panaji/New Delhi, June 9 : Former Rajya Sabha MP and senior Congress leader Shantaram Naik passed away on Saturday after suffering a massive heart attack, a party leader said. He was 72.
Goa Congress President, Girish Chodankar told IANS from Panaji: "Naik passed away around 6.30 a.m."
"He complained of chest pain, after which he was rushed to a private hospital in Margao town. But he was declared brought dead," Chodankar said.
Naik's last rites would take place on Sunday at 10.30 a.m. at his native village Cuncolim in south Goa, he added.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi condoling the death, said: "I'm sorry to hear about the passing away of Shri Shantaram Naik, former Goa Congress Chief, MP and senior Congress leader, who played an important role in the battle for Goa's statehood.
"My condolences to his family in their time of grief. May his soul rest in peace," Gandhi tweeted.
Naik, who headed the Goa Congress until recently, represented the state in Rajya Sabha for two consecutive terms -- from 2005 to 2011 and from 2011 to 2017.
Beginning his political career in 1967, Naik joined the Congress as a party worker and successfully contested the North Goa Lok Sabha seat in 1984.
He was also instrumental in the passage of the bill that led to Goa's statehood on May 30, 1987.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
SpiceJet to operate 13 special flights from UAE on Thursday
New Delhi (PTI): SpiceJet will operate 13 special flights from the UAE on Thursday to facilitate the return of passengers stranded due to the Middle East conflict.
"Of the 13 flights, 12 will operate from Fujairah and 1 will operate from Dubai. The airline will operate seven special flights to Mumbai, five special flights to Delhi and one special flight from Dubai to Mumbai," it said in a statement on Thursday.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the airline said it operated 12 special flights from Fujairah to Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi.
The escalating conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran in the Middle East have significantly disrupted flight operations, leaving a large number of passengers stranded in various cities.
