Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Jaipal Reddy passed away around 1.30 a.m on July 28.
He was admitted to the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Gachibowli, Hyderabad with a high fever a few days back, and was undergoing treatment. Mr. Reddy wad born in 1942 and was survived by his wife, twin sons and a daughter. He joined politics as a student leader of Osmania University and went on to become a Congress MLA in the 1970s .
In the wake of upsurge of opposition to Indira Gandhi after emergency, Mr. Reddy joined Janata Party and later Janata Dal in the splinter groupings that took place. He was a Union Minister in the Federal front government earlier and the Congress led I and II regimes.
He was the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Union Minister for Urban Development, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas before finally heading the Ministry of Science and Technology. He was shifted from Petroleum ministry to Science and Technology under controversial circumstances following differences over gas allocation to Reliance. He refused to budge to Reliance demands
Known for his oratorial skills, Mr. Reddy was heard with rapt attention in the Assembly during his key days as the MLA of Makthal constituency in Mahbubnagar district, Telangana.
The body has been shifted to his residence at Jubilee Hills. Congress MP Komatireddy Venkat Reddy was among the first leaders to rush to his house. No decision has been taken yet on the cremation. All his family members were present at the hospital.
