President Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the death of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. (File Photo)
President Pranab Mukherjee today condoled the death of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and said his contribution to public service will always be remembered.
Expressing his heartfelt condolences on the passing away of Mr Sayeed, the President said, "Contribution of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to Jammu and Kashmir and India through long years of public service will always be remembered".
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he was deeply pained to learn of Mr Sayeed's demise. "He was known for his love for common people, especially the underprivileged."
The Home Minister, who met Mr Sayeed's family at AIIMS soon after his death, said "Mufti Sayeed ji had a wonderful understanding of complex issues pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir. He wanted to bring permanent peace to the Valley."
The demise of Mufti Sayeed is an "irreparable loss" to Jammu and Kashmir. His departure has also left a big void in national politics, he said.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condoled the death of Mr Sayeed. "Just heard the terrible news of Mufti Sahib's passing away. I'm shocked and deeply saddened. May he rest in peace," he said in a tweet.
Omar Abdullah went to AIIMS and expressed his condolences to the family.
Former Union Minister Farooq Abdullah also condoled the death of Mufti Sayeed and said he was deeply saddened by his death.
CPI-M leader in the state Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami also condoled the death of Mr Sayeed and said "the state had lost a leader who had given valuable contribution for building peace in the region".
Congress President Sonia Gandhi also expressed grief over the demise of Mufti Sayeed as she communicated her condolences to his wife, his daughter Mehbooba Mufti, and other well-wishers. "In his death, the state of Jammu and Kashmir as indeed the entire nation has lost a great leader," she said.
Recalling his long association with the Congress party, she said Mufti Sayeed's contribution as a "humanist and to public life in various capacities will forever be remembered."
BJP President Amit Shah said he was "deeply saddened" on hearing the news of Mufti Sayeed's death as he called him a "rare politician."
"Many condolences to his family and supporters in this hour of grief," Mr Shah said.
Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Nirmal Singh said the state will miss Mufti Sayeed in its governance and political pursuits.
"It is a very sad news. We wanted him to guide us. Like he was doing in the last ten months. Now it has come as a great shock for the government as well as the state. He was a national leader. He was having a vision not only in terms of Jammu and Kashmir but also of India....(it was) his inclusive approach and it was for the first time that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were feeling that it was our government.
"This government which believes in transparency...it was here...but unfortunately he is not amongst us. We were wishing early recovery for him but unfortunately this was not possible. It is very sad for us," he said.