Current affairs

Veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel passes away after testing positive for COVID-19!

By alagu, 25 November, 2020
India, Congress

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel has passed away on the morning hours of Wednesday in Delhi at the age of 71 due to COVID-19 related complications. The news of his demise had shocked and saddened the entire gamut of the Congress party as Patel was highly recognized as one of the reliable advisers to Sonia Gandhi and as the top political strategist of the party. 

Patel had tested positive for COVID-19 on October 1 and he took to Twitter and said that he had contracted the viral infection and asked his contacts to self-isolate. The senior Congress leader was admitted to the Medanta Hospital in Gurugram after testing positive and later on, he had developed complications following which he was spelled to be in a critical state. National leaders had expressed their wishes to him for a speedy recovery. 

However, his health had attained a setback and further got deteriorated on Tuesday. Despite the efforts to save him, Ahmed Patel had breathed his last in the wee hours of Wednesday. In the official statement, the children of Ahmed Patel, Faisal Patel, and Mumtaz Patel said, "With profound grief and sorrow, I regret to announce the sad and untimely demise my father, Mr. Ahmed Patel on 25/11/2020 at 3.30 am. After testing positive for COVID-19 around a month back, his health worsened further due to multiple organ failures". 

"May Allah grant him Jannatul Firdaus, inshallah. I request all well-wishers to adhere to COVID-19 law and order regulations by avoiding any mass gatherings and to also maintain social distancing norms at all times", both of them added. The demise has come days after Patel had shown a sign of recovery and his daughter had said last week that his condition was improving and appealed to everyone to keep praying for him. 

Ten days ago, on November 15, Faisal Patel took to Twitter said that Ahmed Patel had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Medanta Hospital for further treatment. Faisal said that his father's condition was stable and continues to be under medical observation and he requested all to pray for his speedy recovery. However, ten days later, the veteran Congress leader has breathed his last. 

Ahmed Patel was one of the senior leaders close to the Congress High Command and he was well-known nationally for being the political adviser to Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Patel was a long term Congress aide and observed close ties with the national and state leaders. Ahmed Patel had played a vital role in driving out the party from difficult times and situations, both internally and externally. 

Patel was also the Treasurer of the Congress party and held a rank at the decision-making body of the party - Congress Working Committee. He was also serving as the Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat. He was considered to be a part of the power-center in the Congress party for enjoying close proximity with the Gandhis. During the UPA regime between 2004-2014, Patel was one of the coordinators between the Central government and the party. 

After the news of his demise broke out, many national and state leaders have been paying their tributes to the deceased leader and condolences to his family. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Saddened by the demise of Ahmed Patel Ji. He spent years in public life, serving society. Known for his sharp mind, his role in strengthening the Congress Party would always be remembered. Spoke to his son Faisal and expressed condolences. May Ahmed Bhai’s soul rest in peace." 

President Ram Nath Kovind said, "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." DMK President MK Stalin said, "Extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Mr. Ahmed Patel, who was a lynchpin of the Indian National Congress. On behalf of the DMK, I extend my condolences to his family as well as the Congress cadres who are mourning his loss". 

In his tribute note, senior Congress leader and former party's president Rahul Gandhi said, "It is a sad day. Shri Ahmed Patel was a pillar of the Congress party. He lived and breathed Congress and stood with the party through its most difficult times. He was a tremendous asset. We will miss him. My love and condolences to Faisal, Mumtaz & the family."

 

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