Bangalore: Dr Vedavyas Srinivas Acharya, 71, passes away

DHNS

Bangalore, 14 Feb 2012: Higher education Minister and veteran BJP leader Dr. Vedavyas Srinivas Acharya passed away on Tuesday.

 

The 71-year-old senior BJP leader suffered a massive heart attack and collapsed on the dais at a function here and was taken to Mallige hospital in Sheshadripuram. Doctors’ attempt to revive Acharya failed, who was declared dead around 1 pm, according to early reports.  

 

“Acharya is no more. It is big shock to us and our party,” Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda told reporters at the Mallige Hospital.

 

Acharya’s mortal remains have been shifted to his official residence on the Racecourse road, where it will remain till 3.30 pm. He will be flown to his home town Udupi later. He is expected to be cremated in the evening.

 

Leaders across the political spectrum have mourned the death of Acharya, often described as the lone honest face in the state cabinet. The State Government has announced a two-day mourning and closed schools and offices across the state today.

 

Acharya, a senior state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, leaves behind his wife, four sons and a daughter.

 

Acharya, a medical doctor, hailed from coastal district of Udupi, about 400 km west of Bangalore. He had been jailed for 19 months during the 1975-77 internal emergency imposed by then prime minister Indira Gandhi.n the past.