Chandra Shekhar Dies Of Cancer At 80

New Delhi: Former Indian Prime Minister Chandra SekharAfter a prolonged struggle with cancer, the former Indian prime minister and socialist legislator Chandra Shekhar (80) died of cancer in New Delhi hospital on Sunday. Shekhar headed a coalition government for a short period in 1990-91. He is survived by two sons.

Mr. Chandra Sekhar breathed his last at 8.45 a.m. at the Apollo Hospital, where he was admitted in May. He was suffering from multiple myloma, a cancer of plasma cells.

Mr. Sekhar was a member of the Congress party until the 1970s, when he left to join the Janata Party or People's Party. In 1990, he formed the new Samajwadi Janata Party, or Socialist People's Party.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi; Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee; the former Prime Minister, V.P. Singh; National Democratic Alliance chairman and the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee; Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat and several Union Ministers and Chief Ministers visited the residence of Mr. Chandra Shekhar to pay homage to the departed soul.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described him as a secular patriot who was committed to people’s wellbeing and nationwide growth.

The Union Government announced a state bereavement for seven days. Today, all Government establishments will remain closed after 1 p.m. to let people attend the State funeral that would be held at 4 p.m. The cremation will take place on the banks of the Yamuna, near the samadhis of the previous presidents, Zail Singh, S.D. Sharma and K.R. Narayanan.

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