New Delhi:
Makhan Lal Fotedar, a veteran Congress leader
who was a close confidant of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and
Rajiv Gandhi, died today at the age of 85.
He died at 1.30 pm at Medanta hospital in Gurugram.
Medical
Superintendent of the hospital Dr AK Dubey said Fotedar was suffering
from diabetes, hypertension and respiratory infection and had been
admitted on June 20.
Hailing from Kashmir, Fotedar was ushered into
politics by Jawaharlal Nehru in early 1950s and he gradually
strengthened his position in the Congress to become one of the most
powerful persons in the party. He enjoyed immense trust of Indira
Gandhi, who had made him her political secretary in 1980.
After her
death, Rajiv Gandhi also made him his political secretary for three
years, before inducting him in his Cabinet as a minister. Fotedar also
was a member of the powerful Congress Working Committee for a long time. PTI
