FIRST DALIT FORMER BJP PRESIDENT BANGARU LAXMAN PASSES AWAY

HYDERABAD: Former BJP President Bangaru Laxman died at a hospital here Saturday, former Union minister, Laxman, who was to turn 75 on March 17, was not keeping well for some time due to a kidney ailment and died of cardiac arrest at a private hospital 5 PM.He is survived by three daughters and a son.

Born in a dalit family in Andhra Pradesh, he joined politics at an early age and was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1996. He was also jailed during the Emergency in 1975.

The first Dalit president of BJP, he had hit the headlines when he was caught on camera receiving money from a purported arms dealer in a sting operation by Tehelka. He was convicted in the case by a Special CBI Court in 2012.

BJP President Rajnath Singh and other party leaders have condoled the death of Laxman.

(SARKARIMIRROR BUREAU)