New Delhi: Expressing shock and grief over the demise of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the nation had lost and exemplary leader who provided healing touch to J&K.
The PDP chief passed away earlier this morning at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) due to multiple organ failure. The Chief Minister breathed his last around 7.30 am.
79-year-old Sayeed, detected with sepsis, decreased blood counts and pneumonia, was admitted to the hospital on December 24, with complains of neck pain and fever. Sayeed was admitted in AIIMS for the past 14 days. He was in the Intensive Care Unit of AIIMS and during hospitalisation his platelets had dropped dangerously low. For the past few days, the Chief Minister was on a ventilator.
Mufti Sahab's demise leaves a huge void in the nation & in J&K, where his exemplary leadership had a major impact on people's lives. RIP.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 7, 2016Mufti Sahab provided a healing touch to J&K through his leadership. He will be missed by all of us. Condolences to his family & supporters.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 7, 2016President Pranab Mukherjee expressed heartfelt condolence at the demise of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief. "Heartfelt condolences on the passing away of J & K CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed PresidentMukherjee," he wrote in a tweet. Contribution of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to J&K and India through long years of public service will be always remembered the President added.
Heartfelt condolences on the passing away of J & K CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed #PresidentMukherjee
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) January 7, 2016Contribution of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to J & K and India through long years of public service will be always remembered #PresidentMukherjee
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) January 7, 2016“Deeply pained to learn of J&K CM's demise. He was known for his love for common people, specially the underprivileged," said Home Minister Rajnath Singh adding that Mufti Sayeed had a wonderful understanding of complex issues pertaining to J&K and that he wanted to bring permanent peace to the valley.
Speaking about the immense loss to the country’s political class, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi also tweeted, “Extremely saddened to learn of the passing away of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Saab. My condolences to his family and supporters. A veteran politician, he had a long & distinguished political career. His loss will be deeply mourned in J&K and across the country.”
Extremely saddened to learn of the passing away of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Saab. My condolences to his family and supporters
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) January 7, 2016A veteran politician, he had a long & distinguished political career. His loss will be deeply mourned in J&K and across the country
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) January 7, 2016Congress President Sonia Gandhi expressed grief over the death of Mufti as she communicated her condolences to his wife, daughter Mehbooba Mufti and other well-wishers. "In his death, the state of Jammu and Kashmir as indeed the entire nation has lost a great leader," she said.
Recalling his long association with the Congress party, she said Mufti's contribution as a "humanist and to public life in various capacities will forever be remembered."
Former chief minister Omar Abdullah expressed his shock and sympathy at the demise of Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) chief. "Just heard the terrible news of Mufti Sahib's passing away. I'm shocked & deeply saddened. May he rest in peace," tweeted Abdullah. "My heart felt sympathies to Mrs Syed, Mehbooba & the entire family in this most difficult of times. My & my family's prayers are with them," he added.
Just heard the terrible terrible news of Mufti Sahib's passing away. I'm shocked & deeply saddened. May he rest in peace.
— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) January 7, 2016My heart felt sympathies to Mrs Syed, Mehbooba & the entire family in this most difficult of times. My & my family's prayers are with them.
— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) January 7, 2016Former Union Minister Farooq Abdullah also condoled the death of Sayeed and said he was deeply saddened by his death.
BJP MP Ram Madhav commended Mufti on his political achievements, and said that “he was a visionary leader who dedicated his entire life to a united strong J&K and India. His demise at a crucial juncture saddening.”
CPI-M leader in the state Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami also condoled the death of Sayeed and said "the state had lost a leader who had given valuable contribution for building peace in the region".
BJP President Amit Shah said he was "deeply saddened" on hearing the news of Mufti's death as he called him a "rare politician."
"Many condolences to his family and supporters in this hour of grief," Shah said.
Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Nirmal Singh said the state will miss Mufti in its governance and political pursuits.
"It is a very sad news. We wanted him to guide us. Like he was doing in the last ten months. Now it has come as a great shock for the government as well as the state. He was a national leader. He was having a vision not only in terms of Jammu and Kashmir but also of India....(it was) his inclusive approach and it was for the first time that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were feeling that it was our government. "This government which believes in transparency...it was here...but unfortunately he is not amongst us. We were wishing early recovery for him but unfortunately this was not possible. It is very sad for us," he said.
Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh said the country has lost one of the last surviving veterans from the first generation of post-Independence politicians and statesmen in India. Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, who was a cabinet colleague of Sayeed in the V P Singh government, said he never compromised with the principles and national integrity.
"Mufti sahib was the man of great vision, his death is great loss to nation and specially to Jammu and Kashmir," he said. LJP Parliamentary Board chairman Chirag Paswan said Sayeed's death has created a void in the polity.
J and K Education Minister Naeem Akhtar said Mufti was one leader who would not shy away from taking "bold" decisions. "He wanted to leave a legacy of peace between India and Pakistan. A legacy of conflict resolution and development of Jammu and Kashmir....It (his death) will create void because of his unconventional politics like the impossible alliance of PDP and BJP which he made possible...the meeting of north and south pole," Akhtar said.
Another party leader Muzaffar Baig, while paying his condolences to the departed leader, said his death was a great loss for the country.
"Our party has a unanimous opinion about Mehbooba Mufti that she should take charge," he said. Baig said the CM's body will be taken in an aircraft to Srinagar where it will be kept for people to pay their last respects.
His last rites will be conducted in his ancestral village, he said. Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Political Secretary Ahmed Patel called Mufti a "fine human being" and an inspiring leader.
"My condolences to Mehbooba and the family. Jammu and Kashmir has lost a visionary and statesman in this crucial moment. It is an irreparable loss to the state and the nation," he said.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad today mourned the demise of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and expressed their condolence to the departed leader's family and supporters.
"Deeply saddened to hear of Mufti Sahib's demise. My condolence to his family and supporters (sic)," he tweeted.
Deeply saddened to hear of Mufti Sahib's demise. My condolences to his family and supporters.
— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) January 7, 2016In a condolence message, the Bihar Chief Minister said that the country has lost a great, popular and visionary leader in the passing away of the 79 year-old Sayeed. He said that during a distinguished political career spanning several years, Sayeed had performed various responsibilities with aplomb.
RJD supremo Lalu Prasad also mourned the death of the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and said he (Sayeed) was a warm, brilliant and exemplary leader.
"Deeply saddened by the sudden demise of Mufti Sahab. He was kind, warm, brilliant and exemplary leader with strong administrative qualities," he tweeted.
"His presence would strongly be missed. My prayers and thoughts are with him and with those he left behind. May God give him eternal rest," the RJD supremo said in another tweet.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also condoled the death of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
Saddened to hear about passing away of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed ji. My condolences to his family, people of J&K and party colleagues
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 7, 2016"Saddened to hear about passing away of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed ji. My condolences to his family, people of J&K and party colleagues," Banerjee tweeted.
