Powerful Aide and Confidant of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, RK Dhawan dies

NEW DELHI, Aug 6: RK Dhawan, once the powerful aide and confidant of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, died here on Monday in a hospital after a brief illness. The 81-year-old Dhawan, who married only six years ago, had been unwell in the last five-six months and had been in and out of hospital, sources in his household said. As Personal Secretary to Gandhi, Rajinder Kumar Dhawan wielded enormous clout with his presence in the PMO and the household, especially during Emergency, by keeping a hold on who got access to the Prime Minister. He was a witness to India Gandhi’s assassination in October 1984 and had appeared as witness before the Thakkar Commission of inquiry which pointed the needle of suspicion on him. (IANS)