Congress leader Janak Raj Gupta dead

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 13

Veteran Congress leader and former Member of Parliament Janak Raj Gupta (79) passed away at Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu around 10:30 am today.

He is survived by his wife, son and daughter. The cremation will take place tomorrow at 4 pm at Jogi Gate in Jammu. He was admitted to the hospital last evening after a massive cardiac arrest.

Doctors kept trying throughout the night to revive him. He suffered another massive heart attack around 5 am. Doctors could not revive him and he breathed his last around 10:30 am.

Condolences started pouring in from all quarters. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad visited Gupta’s residence and expressed his condolences.

Azad said Gupta’s death had created a fathomless void in the political landscape of the state which was not easy to fill.

“Janak Raj Gupta was a remarkable politician, extraordinary human being and strong pillar of the Congress,” he said. Azad said the demise was a colossal loss for the state and the party.

“I stand in solidarity with the bereaved family in this hour of grief,” he said. In the passing away of Gupta, he had lost a long-time associate and dear colleague, said Azad.

Cutting short his three-day visit to the Kashmir valley, Azad immediately rushed to Jammu to attend the funeral and console the bereaved family.

Recalling his amiable ways and humble demeanour, Azad said Gupta’s political conduct would remain an inspiration for younger politicians of the state.

He said Gupta was completely devoted to the service of society all through his political career spanning more than five decades. “During his long political journey, Gupta remained committed to secular principles and inclusive political approach of the Congress,” said Azad.

He said Janak Raj Gupta’s complete faith in secularism had made him acceptable to and dear among all sections of society. “He was never affected by narrow considerations of caste, religion and region,” said Azad. These were the attributes which made Gupta what he was today, said Azad.

He prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and strength and fortitude to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss.

Several senior Congress leaders and other prominent persons from all walks of life visited Gupta’s residence In Jammu today to condole his death.

All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi deeply condoled his death and expressed sympathies with the bereaved family.

Gupta’s political career started in the 1960s and he was elected to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council in 1969.

He was elected to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Legislative Assembly twice, first in 1977 and then in 1983, from Ranbir Singh Pura. He became Deputy Speaker in 1977.

Gupta was elected to the Lok Sabha twice, in 1984 and 1989, from Jammu-Poonch. He was the political adviser to Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad from 2006 to 2008.

A close associate of Ghulam Nabi Azad, Gupta was a staunch Congress loyalist and always stood for uplift of poor sections of society.

Gupta was behind Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s victory from Ranbir Singh Pura in 1985. Gupta had vacated this seat for Mufti after being elected to the Lok Sabha.

Party leaders mourn loss of former MP

Srinagar: J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president GA Mir has expressed shock and grief over the passing away of veteran party leader and former MP Janak Raj Gupta, who breathed his last on Sunday morning. “Gupta has always worked for strengthening the party and was famous for serving the people to the best of his ability,” Mir said and termed his death as a great loss to the party. Offering his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, the JKPCC chief also prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul. Former JKPCC president Peerzada Mohammad Syed also expressed grief over the demise and termed Gupta’s death as a great loss for the party. He offered condolences to the bereaved and prayed for the departed soul. JKPCC vice-president Ghulam Nabi Monga also termed his death as a great loss for the party and offered condolences to the bereaved family while praying for eternal peace to the departed soul. — TNS