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RK Dhawan, a close confidant of former prime minister Indira Gandhi and known to be part of her inner circle during the Emergency years, passed away on Monday. He was 81.
Dhawan breathed his last at the BL Kapur hospital around 7pm, sources close to the family said. The former Union minister was admitted to the hospital last Tuesday for age-related ailments.
During his years as Indira Gandhi’s personal secretary from 1962 to 1984, Dhawan reportedly wielded immense clout, with some claiming that he controlled information and access to the then prime minister. During the Emergency years (1975-77), Dhawan was among Indira Gandhi’s inner circle of leaders.
After Rajiv Gandhi took over the reins of the Congress party and the government following his mother’s assassination, there was talk of Dhawan being sidelined. However, he later returned to party affairs and was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1990. He had also been a member of the Congress Working Committee.
He was appointed minister of state (independent charge) for housing and urban development (1995-1996). Dhawan also served as a member on various parliamentary committees.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi has said that the demise of senior leader R. K. Dhawan has left a deep void in the party. Gandhi took to Twitter to express his grief over the incident.
“The passing away of Shri RK Dhawan ji, who I have known since childhood, leaves a deep void in the Congress family of which he was an important, senior member – loved, respected and admired by all. My condolences go out to his friends and his family in their time of grief,” Gandhi said.
The passing away of Shri #RKDhawan ji, who I have known since childhood, leaves a deep void in the Congress family of which he was an important, senior member – loved, respected and admired by all. My condolences go out to his friends and his family in their time of grief.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 7, 2018
“Our homage to veteran Congress leader, Sh. R.K.Dhawan, who breathed his last today. His tireless spirit, immeasurable commitment & untiring dedication to the Congress ideals will always be remembered. RIP,” Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala tweeted.
Our homage to veteran Congress leader, Sh. R.K.Dhawan, who breathed his last today. His tireless spirit, immeasurable commitment & untiring dedication to the Congress ideals will always be remembered. RIP. pic.twitter.com/Lx3LKAKK4Y
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) August 6, 2018
Former President Pranab Mukherjee also expressed grief at Dhawan’s demise on twitter
Deeply shocked at passing away of Shri RK Dhawan. Though he was ailing I had never expected that the end will come so soon. A close associate and colleague in Party and Government, he will forever be fondly remembered.
— Pranab Mukherjee (@CitiznMukherjee) August 6, 2018
