Shantaram Laxman Naik (12 April 1946 – 9 June 2018) was an Indian politician from Indian National Congress party and a former Member of the Parliament of India representing Goa in the Rajya Sabha. He was the President of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee and the whip of the Indian National Congress in the Rajya Sabha.[8][9]

Shantaram Naik
Naik in 2016
President of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee
In office
8 July 2017[1] – 9 June 2018
Preceded byLuizinho Faleiro[2]
Succeeded byGirish Chodankar
Member of Parliament
Rajya Sabha for Goa
In office
29 July 2005 – 28 July 2017[3]
Preceded byEduardo Faleiro
Succeeded byVinay Dinu Tendulkar[4][5]
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
1984–1989
Preceded bySanyogita Rane
Succeeded byGopal Mayekar
ConstituencyNorth Goa
Personal details
Born
Shantaram Laxman Naik

(1946-04-12)12 April 1946
Cuncolim, Goa, Portuguese India[6]
Died9 June 2018(2018-06-09) (aged 72)
Margao, Goa, India
Political partyIndian National Congress
SpouseBeena Naik (née Nikam)[7]
Children1[7]

Early life and personal background

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Shantaram Naik was born on 12 April 1946 to Laxman and Sita Naik in Cuncolim village in then Portuguese India. He was initiated into politics as a student during the 1967 Assembly elections when he started putting up election campaign posters of the Indian National Congress in public places. He pursued a B.A. degree from the Parvatibai Chowgule College (then affiliated to the University of Mumbai and obtained a LL.B. degree from the Siddharth College of Law in Mumbai.[10] Naik's participation in active politics started in 1972 and he started his law practice the same year.[11] He was an agriculturist and lawyer by profession. He has served as a Special Public Prosecutor. Naik has also been the General Secretary of the Goa, Daman and Diu Pradesh Congress Committee.

He has served as a member of the Town and Country Planning Board, Goa; Committee on Personal Laws, Goa; Tenancy Committee, Goa and the State Khadi Board, Goa. He was elected the President of the South Goa Advocates' Association and the Vice President of the Goa, Daman and Diu Advocates' Association.[12]

He married Beena Naik (née Nikam) on 11 May 1984. Beena is the sister of eminent public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. Shantaram and Beena have a son named Archit.[13]

Member of Lok Sabha

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Shantaram Naik was elected to the 8th Lok Sabha in the 1984 general election from the North Goa constituency.[14][15] As a Lok Sabha member, he introduced the highest number of Private member's bills in the 8th Lok Sabha. He also pursued the demand for statehood to Goa.[14] During his term at the 8th Lok Sabha, Naik was a member of the Estimates Committee.[14]

Member of Rajya Sabha

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Naik represented Goa in the Rajya Sabha for two terms.

Death

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He died on 9 June 2018 in Margao, Goa following a heart attack.[16][17][18]

Controversy

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After a Russian woman claimed she was raped by a state politician, he suggested that some rape victims invite trouble by socialising with "strangers" and blamed the media for highlighting the issue. Naik was criticised by leaders of opposition parties such as CPI-M, BJP and SP for blaming the rape victim and media.[19]

References

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  1. ^ Prudent Media Goa (8 July 2017). "BJP GOVT WILL FALL ON ITS OWN : GPCC PREZ SHANTARAM│Prudent Media Goa". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ "Government formation is not my priority: New GPCC chief – Times of India". The Times of India.
  3. ^ "Goa elects new RS MP today – Times of India". The Times of India.
  4. ^ "Oath or affirmation" (PDF). rajyasabha.nic.in. 2005. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Congress names Ahmed Patel, Naik for Rajya Sabha polls". news.webindia123.com.
  6. ^ "Shantaram Naik Biography – About family, political life, awards won, history". www.elections.in.
  7. ^ a b "'Hero of the zero hour' Shantaram Naik dies at 72 | Goa News - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Indian National Congress". Archived from the original on 25 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Biased Editorial approach".
  10. ^ "PRS". www.prsindia.org.
  11. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ "Members Bioprofile". 164.100.47.194.
  13. ^ "Goa Blog – Goa India – Goa India » Goa: Archit Naik joins NSUI". www.goablog.org.
  14. ^ a b c http://www.archive.india.gov.in/govt/rajyasabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=1981 [dead link]
  15. ^ "1984 India General (8th Lok Sabha) Elections Results". www.elections.in.
  16. ^ "Ex-Goa Congress Chief Shantaram Naik dies". www.aninews.in. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  17. ^ NDTV (9 June 2018). "Former Goa Congress Chief Shantaram Naik Dies Of Heart Attack At 72". Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  18. ^ The Hindu (9 June 2018). "Veteran Congress leader Shantaram Naik dead". Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  19. ^ "Goa MP Shantaram Naik says some women invite rape". Archived from the original on 14 July 2016.
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