Senior Congress leader Girija Vyas dies

Congress leader Girija Vyas. File | Image source: PTI

Experienced Congress leader and former Union Minister Girija Vyas died Thursday at a hospital in Ahmedabad on Thursday after suffering burns and injuries during her Gando ceremony in Udaipur. She is 79 years old.

Ms. Vias is a three-term former MP and two former MLA from Udaipur, who suffered 90% burn damage after her dupatta“(Long scarf) caught fire at the vassal ceremony on March 31. She was taken to a private hospital in the city and later handed over to Ahmedabad.

Congress leaders succumbed to burn injuries while being treated at the Chidusdo Hospital in Ahmedabad on Thursday night. Family sources said her body was taken to Udaipur and the funeral will be held on Friday.

Ms. Vias has served as minister in the state and coalition governments and is also the chairman of the Rajasthan Congress Committee. She also served as chairman of the National Women’s Commission. She was in her last general election from the Udaipur City Council constituency in 2018 when she lost to Gulab Chand Kataria of the Bharatiya Janata party.

Ms. Vias began her political career as Director of the Udaipur Regional Congress in 1977. She served as Minister of Rajasthan from 1985 to 1990 and was first elected as Losab in 1991.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is the opposition leader of Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, AICC Secretary General Jairam Ramesh and KC Venugopal, and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot condemned Ms Vyas’ death.

Mr. Hager said in an article on X that Ms. Vias has worked on Congress and public services in various constitutional and organizational roles. Mr. Gandhi said that Ms. Vias’ contribution in education, social justice, and especially the fields of empowerment of women is very important. “Her departure is an irreparable loss for all of us,” he said.