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| GM Shah passes away | | Vohra, Omar, Mufti condole demise; state mourning, holiday today | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 6: A veteran of Kashmir politics and former Chief Minister GM Shah passed away after a cardiac arrest in Srinagar this morning. He was 88.
Shah was a brother in law of the National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah. His death has come within 25 hours of Omar Abdullah taking over as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources said, Shah felt uncomfortable this morning due to chest congestion and was immediately shifted to the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences at Soura where he breathed his last a little later. Doctors attending on him said that he died of cardiac arrest.
Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have condoled demise of the former Chief Minister and conveyed their symathies with the bereaved family. Former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has also condoled death of the veteran political leader.
Meanwhile, the government has announced a three day state mourning and official holiday on Wednesday as a mark of respect to the departed former Chief Minister. As per a Government notification issued here today, a three-day State mourning from January 6 to January 8, 2009 would be observed and national and state flags shall fly at half mast during the State mourning on all buildings and places. The departed leader would be accorded State funeral, the notification added.
Shah’s party Awami National Conference hand contested the recent assembly elections on 56 seats in the state but could not win any. Shah had personally campaigned at many places and had traveled to Jammu and Rajouri also where his party candidates were contesting assembly elections.
A son in law of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Shah also served as Minister in his cabinet. However, he in 1984 he broke away from the National Conference toppled Dr Farooq Abdullah government with support of Congress legislators. Shah remained as Chief Minister for 18 months and demitted office on March 17, 1987 when government fell down in minority following withdrawal of support by the Congress.
After fall of his government in 1986, Shah and his party largely remained outside the electoral politics and it was only during 2008 elections that he staged a comeback.
Governor, N N Vohra, today expressed grief over the sad passing away of Ghulam Mohammed Shah. In a message to Begum Khalida Shah, the Governor recalled the contribution of the departed leader towards the uplift of the people and development of the State. "This is an irreparable loss to the State, to the family in particular. May the Almighty grant eternal peace to the departed soul", the Governor observed in the condolence message.
The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, has expressed profound grief and shock over the demise of Shah.
In a condolence message, the Chief Minister described Shah Saheb as a pioneering leader who stood for high values in politics and public life. He said that in his death, Jammu and Kashmir has lost a great and visionary leader and able administrator, who left no stone unturned to ameliorate the lot of the poor masses. He said his demise was his personal loss and that of his whole family.
Recalling the contribution of Shah Saheb, the Chief Minister said that he took an active part in the struggle for people's rights and was also jailed for espousing their cause. He said that the principles that Shah Saheb stood for will inspire him to lead the State into prosperity, adding that his death has left a big vacuum in the political arena of the State, which was difficult to be filled.
The Chief Minister said that the tragic news of Shah Saheb's demise was broken to him while he was in Delhi in connection with the Chief Ministers' Conference on Internal Security. He said he was personally bereaved and had hardly expected such a tragedy to arrive barely 24 hours of being sworn-in as the Chief Minister. He wished guidance of Shah Saheb was available for him at a time when he has assumed the charge of the State.
Mr. Omar Abdullah said that Shah Saheb has left behind a legacy that he will try to emulate for achieving the goals he has set for himself in service of the people. He said for his high moral values and principled character, the departed leader will be remembered by people for long.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and party president Mehbooba Mufti have also expressed grief over the sad demise of the former Chief Minister and Awami National Conference (ANC) Patron, Ghulam Mohammad Shah.
In his condolence message, Sayeed while paying tributes to late Shah, said the State has today lost an astute politician and a gifted administrator, whose contribution both in the capacity of a politician and as an administrator would be remembered long. "I am personally grieved over the demise of Shah Sahab," he said.
Expressing heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family, Sayeed prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.
Meanwhile, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti and senior leader Tariq Hameed Karra have also condoled the demise of Ghulam Mohammad Shah and have expressed sympathies with the deceased family.
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