Chhattisgarh Naxal Attack: VC Shukla Passes Away

Former Union minister VC Shukla, who was seriously injured in the deadly Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh, passed away today. He was battling for life since May 25. The Congress lost another strong leader with his death ahead of the general polls.

Shukla was critically wounded when the Naxals attacked a Congress convoy in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district last month. He was admitted to a Jagdalpur hospital where he had undergone a surgery for removal of bullets. Later, he was shifted to Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon from Raipur on May 26.

The naxal terror claimed another life along with PCC chief Nand Kumar Patel, his son Dinesh, senior Congress leader Mahendra Karma and ex-MLA Uday Mudaliyar. While 27 people were killed in the bloodbath, Shukla was among 37 injured persons. However, he closed his eyes forever on Tuesday afternoon.

The veteran leader had held many important portfolios including Communications, Home, Defence, Finance, Planning, Information & Broadcasting, Civil Supplies, External Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources in his long span of political career. He was a Cabinet minister during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s regime.