Congress leader and former Minister Jaffer Sharief passes away
AMN /Bengaluru/ New Delhi
Senior Congress leader and former Union railway minister CK Jaffer Sharief passed away this morning at a hospital in Bengaluru. He was 85.
He was admitted to a private hospital in Bengaluru a few days ago after he collapsed while getting into his car for Friday namaz.
“One of @INCIndia’s senior most leaders, many times MP and one of India’s most successful Railway minister, Karnataka’s very own son Sri CK Jaffer Shareef has passed away. A national leader who had a great connect across all communities. a truly secular leader. My condolences,” Dinesh Gundu Rao said in a tweet
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and other political leaders expressed grief over the demise of former Union Minister C.K. Jaffer Sharief.
“Sorry to hear of the passing of veteran political figure C.K. Jaffer Sharief, who served the nation in many capacities including as Railway Minister. My condolences to his family members and associates in Karnataka and elsewhere,” Kovind said.
Sharief passed away around 12.30 p.m. at Fortis Hospital where he was admitted on Friday after collapsing at home. He had been suffering from age-related ailments for some time.
Expressing condolence, the Prime Minister tweeted: “Saddened by the demise of Sharief ji. As a veteran Parliamentarian, he enriched parliamentary proceedings. He was an effective voice for Karnataka’s aspirations in Delhi. Condolences to his family and supporters.”
A veteran parliamentarian from Bengaluru North and Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituencies, Sharief was Union Railway Minister during 1991-1995 under the P.V. Narasimha Rao-led Congress government.
Calling Sharief’s death a day of tragedy for the Congress party, Rahul said: “My condolences to his family, friends and supporters in their time of grief.”
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said: “Condolences to the family and followers of former Minister Sharief on his passing away. As a Member of Parliament and as Railways Minister, he made his mark. He strove for a better Bengaluru and a prosperous Karnataka.”
Conveying his condolences to the bereaved family of the senior Congress party leader, Loktantrik Janata Dal chief Sharad Yadav said: “Such leaders are the need of the hour when the country is passing through a difficult time.”