Himachal BJP leader Praveen Sharma dies in Chintpurni of heart ailment

Shimla, August 4

Former minister and BJP state vice-president and Chairman HIMUDA Praveen Sharma passed away at his residence in Chintpurni on Wednesday morning.

He was suffering from heart problem.

Sharma remained excise and taxation minister from 1998 to 2003.

Sharma had close links with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was the party affairs chief of Himachal Pradesh in 1998, and used to carry him on his scooter to various parts of the district during his tours.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur expressed his deep shock over the demise of Sharma. In a message, he said the party has lost one of its strongest leaders who always fought for the right cause of the poor.

Former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said that the demise of Sharma was a personal loss to him and it seemed that “I have lost my soul”.

“The entire state will remember Praveen Sharma till time immemorial for his working for the organisation and the people,” he said.

The last rites of Sharma will take place later this afternoon at a crematorium near Amb Kaswa in Una.