NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, AHMEDABAD, BENGALURU, NOV 25
President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday said he was distressed to know of the demise of veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel, whose amiability won him friends, across party lines.
Patel, 71, died in a Gurugram hospital on Wednesday due to multi-organ failure. He was suffering from complications related to COVID-19.
“Distressed to know that veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel is no more. An astute Parliamentarian, Shri Patel combined the skills of a strategist and the charm of a mass leader. His amiability won him friends, across party lines. My condolences to his family and friends,” Kovind said in a tweet.
The vice president said he was deeply saddened. “…He was an able parliamentarian and always maintained cordial relations with leaders across the political spectrum,” the Vice President Secretariat tweeted quoting Naidu.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah condoled the death of senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Wednesday and said he made a significant contribution to his party and public life.
“The news about the death of senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel is very sad. Ahmed Patel made a significant contribution to the Congress party and public life. I express my condolences to his family and supporters in this hour of grief. May God bless the departed soul,” Shah said in a tweet in Hindi.
Gujarat leaders laud his intelligence and perseverance
Senior politicians from Gujarat, including Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, on Wednesday condoled the death of Congress Rajya Sabha member Ahmed Patel and lauded his intelligence and perseverance as well as his role in strengthening the Congress party.
Rupani in a tweet said he was saddened by the demise of the senior Congress leader.
“His role in strengthening the Congress party and his social work will always be remembered. I pray to God to give peace to his soul and strength to his family members to endure this suffering,” the BJP leader tweeted.
In a tweet, Nadda said, “Deeply anguished to hear about the demise of veteran Congress leader Shri Ahmed Patel Ji. I pray for strength to the family members and his supporters at this hour of grief. Om Shanti.”
Senior BJP leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh noted that Patel was a seasoned leader who made a remarkable contribution to his party and public life.
“Ahmed Bhai had friends across party lines. My thoughts are with his family and well-wishers in this sad hour,” he said.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar also expressed his sadness at Patel’s demise.
Former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela, who quit the Congress in 2017, called Patel “a leader with intelligence and perseverance”.
“His absence will be profoundly felt. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and party workers. May his Soul Rest in peace,” he tweeted.
Vaghela had left the Congress before the 2017 Gujarat Assembly polls after he and a few MLAs supporting him voted against Ahmed Patel, the then Congress candidate for the Rajya Sabha election, and backed BJP nominee Balwantsinh Rajput.
Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda said he was saddened beyond words by Patel’s demise.
“It”s a great loss to @INCIndia, Gujarat, the nation, & me personally. His contribution to the party will always be remembered. My deepest condolences to his family in this hour of grief. May his soul rest in peace,” Chavda tweeted.
Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee working president Hardik Patel described Ahmed Patel as the guide for youth like him.
“I pray to God for the peace of his departed soul. Ahmedbhai helped me become strong socially, politically, and ideologically. Ahmedbhai was sympathetic to the people of Gujarat,” he tweeted.
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal expressed grief over the demise of veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Wednesday and extended his condolences to the family of the late leader.
“Shocked to know abt the demise of Ahmed Patel ji. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and supporters. May his soul rest in peace,” Kejriwal said in a tweet.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, and other party leaders expressed their grief over the death of Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Wednesday.
Mourning his death, Deve Gowda tweeted, “I’m shocked and deeply saddened by the demise of senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Shri @AhmedPatel. This is a great loss to our nation and the INC. May his soul rest in peace.”
In his condolence message, Yediyurappa said, “Deeply saddened by the passing away of veteran Congress leader Shri Ahmed Patel Ji. My heartfelt condolences to his family, followers, and tributes to the departed soul. Om Shanti.”
Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too took to Twitter to condole the demise of Ahmed Patel. “I am deeply pained with the demise of senior Congress leader and my intimate friend Ahmed Patel. Having served as a political secretary to Sonia Gandhi for a very long time, he was the pillar of the party. In his death, the party has suffered an irreparable loss. I join his family in this moment of grief,” he tweeted.
Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar expressed shock and grief over Patel”s death. In a tweet, he said, “Deeply saddened & shocked by the demise of AICC Treasurer & one of the foremost leaders of the Congress party Shri. Ahmed Patel. His steadfast loyalty & contribution to the Congress party as well as the nation was exemplary & an inspiration to us all. Condolences to his family.”
Most trusted leader of Cong; great friend of mine: Manmohan
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh condoled the death of senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Wednesday, saying his passing is an “irreparable loss” to the party.
Singh said he was saddened to hear the shocking news of the untimely death of Patel.
“Ahmed Patel ji was one of the most trusted leader of the Congress Party and a great friend of mine. His passing away is an irreparable loss to the Congress Party. My heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family,” he said in a statement.
