Belgaum: Shankaranand, Who Gave a `Clean Chit’ to Rajiv Gandhi in Bofors Scandal, Dead
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Belgaum, Nov 20: Veteran Congress leader and former Union minister B Shankaranand, who represented Belgaum district’s Chikkodi lok sabha constituency for seven consecutive terms, died of cardiac arrestl at a private hospital in Belgaum on Friday, November 20.
The 84-year-old Congress leader, who had as a cabinet minister under late Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao, was admitted in the KLE Medical College Hospital on November 18 following kidney complications. After his shock defeat in 1996 by a little known lady Janata Dal candidate, he had virtually retired from active politics.
A staunch loyalist of the Nehru-Gandhi family, Shankaranand was entrusted with the chairmanship of the joint parliamentary committee that probed the Rs 80 crore Bofors Gun Scandal which was set up in August 1987 and had given a clean chit to Rajiv Gandhi. The Shankaranand-led JPC had held that no bribes were given to Indian politicians or defence ministry officials into secret Swiss bank accounts nor were there irregularities in the purchase of the Swedish howitzer guns.
He leaves behind two sons and five daughters. One of his sons, Om Prakash Kanagali, was a cabinet minister in the state.
Karnataka governor H R Bharadhwaj in a condolence message said: ``I deeply regret the sudden demise of Shankaranand. May his soul rest in peace. May God give the bereaved family the strength to bear the loss.’’
``We have lost a veteran leader who espoused the cause of Kamataka at the centre,’’ the chief minister B S Yeddyurappa said in a condolence message.
KPCC president R V Deshpande, Congress opposition leader in the assembly Siddaramaiah and his council counterpart V S Ugrappa have als.o expressed their grief at the death of the senior party leader. They said the veteran Congress leader had worked for the upliftment of the Dalits and less privileged sections of society.