Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 10: Former Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Ghulam Rasool Kar died in a hospital early this morning.
He was 94. Kar was admitted to S K Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), where he breathed his last at 0230 hrs.
His body was taken to his ancestral house at Sopore in North Kashmir district of Baramulla, where the last rites were performed later this afternoon.
Born on June 19,1921, Kar became a number of Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly in 1951. However, he was later elected to Legislative Assembly in 1957. He served as a minister in the first Congress Government from 1965 to 1971 and later 1972 to 1975. Kar was nominated as a member to Rajya Sabha in 1984 and served till 1987.
However, he was elected as Member of Parliament in year 1996 from Baramulla-Kupwara constituency. He also served as State chief of Jammu and Kashmir PCC for several years.
His demise has been widely mourned by cross section of society.
Governor N N Vohra has expressed grief over the sad demise of Kar. In a message of condolence, the Governor, who had known Kar for many years, has conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved family and prayed for the departed soul resting in eternal peace.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has deeply mourned the sad demise of veteran Congress leader and former Minister, Ghulam Rasool Kar. Chief Minister was speaking during a resolution moved in the Legislative Council by Minister for Education Naeem Akhtar to condole the death of Ghulam Rasool Kar.
Referring to his close association with the deceased leader, Mufti Sayeed recalled his immense contribution as a Member of the Constituent Assembly from 1951 to 1957. “He was full of political wisdom and in his death we have lost a great visionary leader who tirelessly struggled for raising the issues of the weaker sections of the society,” Mufti said.
The Chief Minister conveyed his heart-felt sympathies to the bereaved family and prayed for peace to the departed soul.
Acting Chairman, Legislative Council, Jahangir Hussain Mir described Kar as one of the tallest political leaders of the State who was responsible in transforming the political thought in the past years. The Legislators said it was due to tireless efforts of people like Kar that masses of the Valley generated interest in politics and political activities of the State.
The House also observed 2 minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed leader.
National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and Working President Omar Abdullah have also expressed profound grief and sorrow over the demise of veteran Congress leader. They have conveyed their heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family in their moment of loss.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has expressed grief and shock over the demise of veteran Congress leader Ghulam Rasool Kar. She conveyed her personal sympathies to the bereaved family and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee headed by Ghulam Ahmad Mir has also mourned the demise of Kar. Every rank and file of the Congress party throughout the State remembered the great contributions of Kar throughout his life in the political field in different capacities.
Follow our WhatsApp channel