Former Goa Congress chief Shantaram Naik no more; Rahul leads tributes

Former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament and ex-Goa Congress chief Shantaram Naik passed away on June 9, en route to a Margao hospital, after suffering a heart attack. The 72-year-old Naik was being taken to the hospital after he complained of uneasiness, where he was declared brought dead, said Goa Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary Altinho Gomes.

Naik was declared dead at 6.30 am on Monday. His last rites will be performed at his residence in Cuncolim in South Goa on June 10 at 11 am. He is survived by his wife and a son.

Naik was until recently the President of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee. He had resigned from the post after party’s chief Rahul Gandhi appealed for the young minds to take over the reigns. He was then replaced by AICC Secretary Girish Chodankar.

“It is shocking news for us. We have lost a guide. He had mentored so many youth and inspired them to join Congress party. It is a big loss for us,” said Chodankar.

Shantaram Naik is both a former Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha member representing the coastal state. He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1984, during which he pursued the demand for statehood to Goa, which was achieved in the year 1987.

Naik also represented Goa in the Rajya Sabha for two terms—2005-2011 and 2011-2017. He was defeated by BJP candidate Vinay Tendulkar during  the elections held for Rajya Sabha seat in July 2017.

Tributes to Shantaram Naik have been pouring in from functionaries and leaders across political lines: