KATHMANDU: Former minister and Nepali Congress leader Marshall Julum Shakya, who suffered from brain haemorrhage and was admitted to the Tokha-based Grande International Hospital, passed away on Saturday morning. He was 77.

Leader Shakya succumbed to aspiration pneumonia and septic shock at the final stage at around 9:00 am today, according to the hospital.

Earlier, leader Shakya was admitted to the Norvic International Hospital at Thapathali on March 3. Later, he was shifted to the Dhapas-based hospital.

Shakya, who served as a powerful minister in the Krishna Prasad Bhattarai-led interim government in 1990/1991, suffered from from heart and kidney ailments also.

Borin in Kathmandu in October 1940, Shakya was one of the founding members of Nepal Student Union, the sister wing of Nepali Congress. He was involvement in democratic movements in the country and spent more than 14 years in jail and remained underground for two years during the Panchayat regime.

He was arrested for protesting the the coup of the people-elected BP Koirala-led government in 1960 by King Mahendra.

The party recalled Shakya's contribution in the delivery of Nepal's Constitution 1990 after the end of party-less Panchayat system and the restoration of multiparty democracy.

He will be cremated as per the family tradition on the bank of Bagmati River at Teku today afternoon, according to the party.

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