Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Friday could not attend a function to release a commemorative stamp in the memory of late party veteran Shyamacharan Shukla here as she is indisposed.
Highly placed sources said Gandhi developed mild fever in the morning and, hence, her scheduled visit to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s official residence at 7, Race Course Road to participate in the function did not take place.
Regretting Gandhi’s absence, Uma Tiwari, the daughter of late Shukla, said she was sad to learn that Gandhi is unwell and, therefore, could not come.
“She would have definitely come had she been fine,” Tewari said.
Party sources said that there was nothing serious as her health is otherwise fine.
Gandhi had returned from abroad on March 5 after a routine check up for her undisclosed ailment. She had gone out of the country for the check up on Februrary 27 following a surgery over six months back.
A day after results of elections in five states were out, Gandhi held one-on-one interaction with party office bearers in the AICC headquarters on March 7 to review the Congress’ performance and had interacted with the media after that.
Releasing the commemorative stamp, the Prime Minister said Shukla had a high stature as a politician and the values and ideals which he pursued in his public life inspires others.
Singh said that the works of Shukla in the field of irrigation are still remembered. He said that there were many occasions during his career when he had come in contact with Shukla.
Shukla’s son Amitesh also recalled the relationship between his father and the Prime Minister.
Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said Shukla was a saintly figure in politics and had a remarkable vision.
The five rupee stamp bearing a picture of Shukla was earlier scheduled to be released on February 17 but the function was postponed to March nine.
Born on February 27, 1925, Shukla was the son of Madhya Pradesh’s first Chief Minister Ravi Shankar Shukla.
Shyama Charan was MP chief minister from March 26, 1969 to January 28, 1972; December 23, 1975-April 29, 1977 and December 9, 1989 to March 4, 1990. Shukla had also edited a daily from Madhya Pradesh, Mahakaushal. He had passed away on February 14, 2007.
The function, among others, was attended by senior party leaders Motilal Vora, Digivijay Singh and Sonia Gandhi’s political and secretary Ahmed Patel.
—PTI