Veteran Cong leader Vasant Sathe dies at 86

Veteran Congressman and former Union minister Vasant Sathe, 86, died of cardiac arrest at his residence in Sushant Lok here on Friday. He was rushed to a hospital where all efforts to revive him failed.

Veteran Congressman and former Union minister Vasant Sathe, 86, died of cardiac arrest at his residence in Sushant Lok here on Friday. He was rushed to a hospital where all efforts to revive him failed.

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Sathe's doctor, B Kalra said Sathe who had his first bypass surgery 25 years ago, suffered cardiac arrest at 7.15pm. Kalra said Sathe had suffered massive heart attacks twice earlier.

Born on March 5, 1925, at Nashik in Maharashtra, Sathe received his early education at Bhonsla Military School and did his masters in Economics and Political Science at Nagpur Mahavidyalaya, followed by a degree in Law at Morris College, Nagpur University.

He took active part in the freedom movement and removed the British flag and unfurled the Tricolour at the district court in Nagpur during the Quit India Movement.

Sathe made his debut in the Lok Sabha from Akola in 1972 and later represented Wardha constituency from 1980 to 1991.

A close associate of Indira Gandhi, Sathe was the deputy leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party during his second term in Parliament from 1977-79.

He handled various portfolios but is known for his untiring efforts to introduce colour television in the country for the 1982 Asian Games during his tenure as minister of Information and Broadcasting.

Sathe authored seven books with the latest being a candid, political commentary - Memoirs of a Rationalist - which was released in 2006.

President Pratibha Patil Congress President Sonia Gandhi condoled Sathe's death.

(With PTI inputs)