Former minister P Shiv Shankar passes away

Hyderabad: Former Union Minister P Shiv Shankar passed away here on Monday after prolonged illness. He was 88. He is survived by two sons and a daughter.

An influential minister in the Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi cabinets, he served as minister for Law, External Affairs and Petroleum. A judge in the Andhra Pradesh High Court during 1974-75, Shiv Shankar was elected to the Lok Sabha from Secunderabad in 1979 on a Congress ticket. He also served as Governor of Sikkim and Kerala. A four time MP, he later quit Congress and joined the Praja Rajyam Party launched by actor Chiranjeevi.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has expressed shock over the death of former union minister P Shiva Shankar. In a message here, the CM recalled the services rendered by Shiva Shankar as a BC leader, Union Minister, Judge and Governor. The Chief



Minister conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family and prayed for the departed soul.

The Chief Minister instructed officials concerned to make arrangements for the official funeral of the departed leader who hails from Telangana State. He has asked Chief Secretary S P Singh to take care of the arrangements.

Governor E S L Narasimhan also expressed profound sadness on the passing away of Shiva Sankar. Recalling the yeoman service rendered by Shiva Sankar as Union Minister and Governor of Sikkim and Kerala, he said, his memory will be cherished for his immense contribution to the country.

The Governor conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the members of his family and prayed to the Almighty to give his family the strength and courage to bear with this irreparable loss.