India today mourned the death of a star of anti-Emergency struggles and a charismatic leader of the Socialist movement, George Fernandes.
The 88-year-old veteran leader breathed his last at his home here after a prolonged illness.
Confirming his death, his family members said Fernandes was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and was under treatment for Swine flu recently. His body will be kept at the Max Hospital in Saket and will be cremated at a Christian cemetery in Pritviraj Road after his son Sean Fernandes comes from New York.
Fernandes, who began his public life as a trade union activist, was instrumental in organising the Railway strike ahead of the proclamation of Emergency. Born in Mangalore, Fernandes became a Member of Parliament from Maharashtra in 1967. He was member in the Lok Sabha for nine terms since then from Maharashtra and from Bihar.
He was a member of the Rajya Sabha for a brief period during the second term of the UPA government. He was the Defence Minister of the country in the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and had to resign after the allegations over coffin scam. He was minister in Cabinets formed 1977, 1989, 1998 and 1999.
PTI adds:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise, saying Fernandes was frank and fearless, and never deviated from his ideology. “A visionary Railway Minister and a great Defence Minister who made India safe and strong. During his long years in public life, George Sahab never deviated from his political ideology. He resisted the Emergency tooth and nail. His simplicity and humility were noteworthy,” the PM said.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi expressed his condolences to Fernandes’ family and friends. “I’m sorry to hear about the passing away of former Parliamentarian & Union Minister, George Fernandes Ji,” he said in a Facebook post.