J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed dies

Risingbd Desk: Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passed away of multiple organ failure in New Delhi on Thursday morning after nearly a week long hospitalisation. He was 78.

Mr Sayeed, a two time chief minister of the state had started his second tenure on March 1st, 2015 in alliance with the BJP, after having led the state government between 2003-05 previously.

He was the founder of the Jammu and Kashmir People`s Democratic Party (JKPDP) that he founded in 1999 to persuade "the Indian government into an unconditional dialogue with the Kashmiri people."

In a long career in politics, Mr Sayeed was a Congressman till 1987, and had been minister for tourism in the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1986, after which he joined former Prime Minister V P Singh`s National Front government as India`s home minister.

His short stint there (1989-90) was marred by the kidnapping by Kashmiri militants, of his daughter Rubaiyya Sayeed.
Mr Sayeed`s other daughter Mehbooba Mufti is considered his political heir, and through his illness there has been talk of her succeeding to the chief minister`s chair in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

Source: The Hindu

Risingbd/ Jan 7, 2015/Mukul