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Bhardwaj breathed his last around 6.30 pm at Max Hospital, Saket, where he was admitted since Wednesday due to kidney-related ailments, his family told PTI.
The cremation will take place at Nighambodh Ghat on Monday at 4 pm, his son Arun Bhardwaj said.
He is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters. Bhardwaj celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary on February 29.
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He was the law minister for 14 years and served under the prime ministership of Rajiv Gandhi, Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh. During his stint as the governor of Karnataka between 2009 and 2014, he sternly dealt with the mining mafia active in the state.
It was during Bhardwaj”s tenure as law minister that Bofors-accused Ottavio Quattrocchi was given a clean chit by then UPA government in 2009.
Sources said he fell out with Congress party leadership after he became the governor and criticised it.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and opposition leader in the assembly Siddaramaiah also mourned the demise of Bhardwaj.
“In his death we lost a good legal expert and administrator. May his soul rest in peace and may God give strength to his family to bear the loss,” Yediyurappa said in a condolence message.
A tussle between Bhardwaj and Yediyurappa over mining and land scams drew everyone”s attention during his second stint as chief minister.
Gowda said Bhardwaj will always be remembered for his exceptional service to the nation, while Siddaramaiah recalled him as as a tough man against immoral practices during power struggle.
“His contribution to Karnataka during his tenure shall always be remembered. He was tough against immoral practices of power struggle. My deepest condolences to his family members & well-wishers,” Siddaramaiah tweeted.
Bhardwaj held a Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) degree and did his schooling from GBC High School, Rohtak, and college in BM College, Shimla. He also studied at Agra University and Panjab University.