Congress president Rahul Gandhi expressed condolences on the death of former Goa Congress chief Shantaram Naik on Saturday.

Gandhi took to Twitter to express his grief.

“I’m sorry to hear about the passing away of Shri Shantaram Naik, former Goa Congress Chief, MP and senior Congress leader, who played an important role in the battle for Goa’s statehood. My condolences to his family in their time of grief. May his soul rest in peace,” he wrote.

I’m sorry to hear about the passing away of Shri Shantaram Naik, former Goa Congress Chief, MP and senior Congress leader, who played an important role in the battle for Goa’s statehood. My condolences to his family in their time of grief. May his soul rest in peace.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 9, 2018

Naik was the President of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee who had resigned from the post recently after Gandhi appealed for the young minds to take over the reins. He was then replaced by Chodankar.

Senior Congress leader Randeep S Surjewala too took to Twitter to condole Naik’s passing.

“Shocked and saddened by the passing away of Shantaram Naik ji, a pillar of indomitable strength for the Congress party in Goa,” he wrote, adding, “In this hour of grief, I express my solidarity with his family, friends and supporters and pray for the departed soul.”

“We condole the passing away of Senior Congress leader Shantaram Naik, former Goa PCC President & former Rajya Sabha MP. Our thoughts are with his family,” a tweet from the official handle of the Congress read.

Shocked and saddened by the passing away of Shantaram Naik ji, a pillar of indomitable strength for the Congress party in Goa.

In this hour of grief, I express my solidarity with his family, friends and supporters and pray for the departed soul. 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/uM5wxquvQc

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) June 9, 2018

Shantaram Naik, a former Rajya Sabha MP, died after suffering a heart attack on Saturday. He was 72.

Naik was taken to a private hospital in Margao town from his residence after he complained of uneasiness where he was declared brought dead, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary Altinho Gomes said.

“It is a shocking news for us. We have lost a guide in the form of him. He had mentored so many youths and inspired them to join Congress party. It is a big loss for us,” said Goa Congress leader Girish Raya Chodankar.

Considered as the party loyalist, Naik was elected as the member of Lok Sabha in the 1984 General Election. He also pursued the demand for statehood to Goa which was fulfilled in the year 1987.

He represented Goa in Rajya Sabha for two terms 2005-2011 and 2011-2017. He was defeated by BJP candidate Vinay Tendulkar during the elections held for Rajya Sabha seat in July 2017.

He is survived by his wife and a son.