Srinagar: Senior Congress leader Makhan Lal Fotedar, who was a political advisor to Indira Gandhi and was known as a Gandhi family loyalist, passed away here on Thursday.
A former Cabinet minister and once called the ‘Chanakya’ of Congress party, Fotedar had been ailing for some time.
He was shifted to Medicity Medanta Hospital from his house here in Sushant Lok area after he complained of uneasiness. He died in the hospital, a party leader told IANS.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi offered her condolences. “Fotedar was one of the guiding lights for the Congress and has left behind a void which can never be filled,” she said.
Gandhi said that in his long and active political career spanning over five decades, Fotedar tirelessly fought for the rights of the people and served them with utmost integrity.
Fotedar was born into a middle class Kashmiri Brahmin family at Mattan in Anantnag in the Kashmir Valley and was initiated into politics by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in the 1950s.
He served as then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s political secretary from 1980 to 1984 until her assassination and was one of her confidants.
He was also one of the two signatories to her will and advised her on major issues. Fotedar was a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee, the party’s highest decision making body.
Condoling the demise of Fotedar the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti described the late leader as a repository of the political history of the State and the country whose loss would be difficult to fill. She said as the son of the soil, Makhan Lal Foredar added grace, decorum and integrity to whatever role he assumed during his decades’ long career in politics and public life.
Mehbooba Mufti said the late leader had a close association with her father late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed spanning over many decades and the personal traits of hospitality, courtesy, dignity and discretion exhibited by him would always be remembered by one and all.
The Chief Minister has conveyed her sympathies to the bereaved family of late Fotedar.
Condoling the demise of Fotedar the Works Minister described the late leader as a repository of the political history of the State and the country. He said son of the soil, Makhan Lal Foredar added grace, decorum and integrity to whatever role he assumed during his decades’ long career in politics and public life. The Minister conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved family.
Condoling the demise of Fotedar, Governor N N Vohra has prayed for peace to the departed soul and wished the bereaved family the strength to bear the sad loss.
In his condolence message, Chief Minister’s Advisor Prof Mattoo described the late leader as a repository of the political and social history of the State as well as country whose contribution will be recorded in the annals of history as exemplary. He said son of the soil has also contributed in the social, cultural and philanthropic circles of Jammu and Kashmir and the country as well. The Advisor conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved family.
