Former Defence Minister George Fernandes passes away at 88

Former Defence Minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, George Fernandes passed away on Tuesday, January 29, at the age of 88, family sources said. He had been unwell and bedridden over the past few years. George Fernandes had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

He had a cold and cough and was taken to the Max Hospital in Saket by his wife, Liela Fernandes, earlier in the day, when doctors said that the veteran leader has already passed away. His son, who lives in New York, is expected back in a day or two, after which the funeral will take place, the sources said.

Fernandes was born in Mangalore in Karnataka in the year 1930. He was elected to Parliament from the Muzaffarpur seat in Bihar in 1977 and was appointed Union Minister for Industries.

He later joined the Janata Dal. Fernandes served as Railways minister in V P Singh government from 1989 to 1990. In 1994, after disintegration of the Janata Party, Fernandes formed the Samata Party. He was instrumental in setting up the Konkan Railway project, connecting Mangalore and Bombay. His last session as a parliamentarian was as Rajya Sabha MP between August 2009 and July 2010.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday condoled the demise of former union minister and socialist leader George Fernandes, saying he was frank and fearless and never deviated from his ideology.

"Frank and fearless, forthright and farsighted, he made a valuable contribution to our country. He was among the most effective voices for the rights of the poor and marginalised," he wrote on Twitter.

Modi said, "When we think of Fernandes, we remember most notably the fiery trade union leader who fought for justice, the leader who could humble the mightiest of politicians at the hustings".

Congress President Rahul Gandhi also condoled the demise of former defence minister George Fernandes.

"I'm sorry to hear about the passing away of former Parliamentarian & Union Minister, George Fernandes Ji. My condolences to his family and friends in this time of grief," Gandhi said in a Facebook post.

with PTI and IANS inputs