Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 28: Veteran Congress leader and senior CWC member, ML Fotedar, said to be close confidant of former Prime Ministers, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, died today at the age of 85.
Fotedar breathed his last at 1.30 pm at Medanta hospital in Gurugram.
Party sources said that Fotedar was suffering from diabetes and respiratory infection and had been undergoing treatment in the hospital for the last about three months.
Hailing from Kashmir, Fotedar was ushered into politics by Jawaharlal Nehru in early 1950s and he gradually strengthened his position in the Congress to become one of the most powerful persons in the party.
He enjoyed immense trust of Indira Gandhi, who had made him her political secretary in 1980. After her death, Rajiv Gandhi also made him his political secretary for three years, before inducting him in his Cabinet as a Minister.
Fotedar was also a member of the powerful Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest decision-making body of the party, for a long time. Even now, he was a permanent invitee to the CWC.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, while expressing her condolences on his demise, said, ” In his long and active political career spanning over five decades, he tirelessly fought for the rights of people and served them with utmost integrity.”
She said Fotedar was “one of the guiding lights for the Congress party and has left behind a void which can never be filled.”
In his message, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said, “Fotedar ji was a pillar of strength in the Congress party. His demise is a big loss to us. My condolences to his family in this hour of grief.”
Fotedar was a former member of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and represented the Pahalgam constituency from 1967 to 1977. He was a two-time Rajya Sabha member and a former Union Minister.
J&K Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also expressed grief over the sad demise of M L Fotedar and prayed for peace to the departed soul. They also conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family.
Ms Mufti in her message described Late Fotedar as repository of the political history of the State and the country whose loss would be difficult to fill. She also referred to the close association of his late father with Fotedar and recalled his personal traits of hospitality, courtesy, dignity and discretion exhibited by him always.
Meanwhile, Pradesh Congress Committee today expressed grief and sorrow over the sad demise of veteran Congress leader Makhan Lal Fotedar, who breathed his last in Delhi today.
Senior party leaders, GA Mir, Peerzada Mohd Syed, Taj Mohi- Ud-Din, P. Namgiyal, CLP Leader Nawang Rigzin Jora, Gulam Nabi Monga, Haji Abdul Rashid Dar, GM Saroori, Dharam Pal Sharma, Mula Ram, Madan Lal Sharma, Sham Lal Sharma, Raman Bhalla, Ravinder Sharma, Farooq Andrabi, Aijaz Ahmad Khan, Usman Majeed, Viqar Rasool Wai, Asgar Karbalai, Mohd Amin Bhat, Gulzar Ahmad Wani, Gulam Nabi Mir Lasjan and other senior leaders while mourning the demise of Late Fotedar termed it as a great loss to the Congress Party.
Recalling the contributions of Fotedar to Congress party and Nation as well, Congress leaders described the departed soul as a visionary and upright personality, who remained committed to the cause of serving people to the best of his ability.
While offering deepest condolences to bereaved family, Congress leaders prayed for eternal peace to departed soul.
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