Seventeen days after he was brought to Medanta hospital in a critical condition, veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister Vidya Charan Shukla (84) passed away on Tuesday afternoon. Shukla was critically injured in the Maoist attack and was airlifted to Medanta a day later. He was kept on ventilator ever since.
The doctors at Medanta hospital said that multi-organs failure led to his death. Shukla received three gunshot injuries — two on his chest and one on his abdomen, when Maoists attacked the Congress convoy.
"A multi-disciplinary team of specialist doctors were monitoring Shukla's health round-the-clock. The doctors operated on Shukla and extracted three bullets from his body but the toxic generated proved fatal," Yatim Mehta, chairman of critical care unit in Medanta, said in a statement.
"The toxic waste generated in the body damaged his vital organs - liver, kidney and small intestine. To reduce toxic generation we cleaned the affected areas with antibiotics but at his age his body was not supporting our efforts," Mehta added.
Shukla had shown marginal improvement a week ago but his condition deteriorated following the infection.Around 1.30 pm, heavy deployment of police was made at the hospital and the area was cordoned off. At 3 pm, he was declared dead through a statement issued by the hospital management. later, his body was sent to AIIMS for autopsy.
"We have worked together since he was the part of youth congress, NSUI and now he was commanding the helm of State Congress. the Jharkand congress has lost a big leader and its is shocking news for us" said Shiv Narayan Diwedi, Jharkhand, Congress State secretary said. He visited Shukla's family at Medanta.
According to the agencies, top leaders, including President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, expressed grief at VC Shukla's death.
Describing Shukla as "a veteran Parliamentarian, able administrator and an outstanding statesman", Mukherjee said he had made "valuable contribution to the growth of our nation in various capacities. The nation will remember his contributions and his pursuit of excellence in public life".
In a condolence message to Shukla's wife, the Prime Minister said he was "particularly pained that he lost his life in a brutal attack by left Wing Extremists. His passing away only strengthens our resolve to fight the menace with firmness".
Gandhi also expressed deep grief at the passing away of Shukla.Several senior leaders, including the Prime Minister, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, visited the AIIMS to pay their last respects to Shukla.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde also condoled the death of Shukla, while Petroleum Minister M Veerappa Moily said the ideals pursued by Shukla "will inspire the generations to come".
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed anguish at his death, describing Shukla as a veteran parliamentarian and a senior politician.