Veteran Congress leader, ex-railway minister Jaffer Sharief dies aged 85

Former Union Minister and veteran Congress leader from Karnataka Jaffer Sharief died at a private hospital on Sunday, November 25, following a heart attack, a party official said. He was 85. He is survived by two daughters and a son.

"Sharief passed away around 12.30pm at Fortis Hospital in the city centre.

"He was admitted on Friday after he collapsed at home. He was ailing for sometime with age-related problems," said party's state unit spokesman Ravi Gowda.

"One of @INCIndia’s senior most leaders, many times MP and one of India’s most successful Railway minister, Karnataka’s very own son Sri CK Jaffer Shareef has passed away. A national leader who had a great connect across all communities, a truly secular leader. My condolences." tweeted Dinesh Gundu Rao, President, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.

“It is a day of tragedy for the Congress party, with another senior, loved & respected member of our family in Karnataka, Shri Jaffer Sharief Ji, passing away today. My condolences to his family, friends & supporters in their time of grief. #JafferSharief” tweeted Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.

The leader was preparing for the release of the book 'India wins freedom' by Moulana Abdul Kalam Azad in Urdu, scheduled to be released on the November 28.

A seven-time Lok Sabha member, Sharief, started his career under the late Karnataka CM and Lingayat strongman S Nijalingappa. After a split within the Congress, he stood for Indira Gandhi.

A veteran parliamentarian from Bengaluru North and Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituencies, Sharief was Union Railway Minister from 1991-1995 under the PV Narasimha Rao government at the Centre.

He played a vital role in the development of the rail network in Karnataka during his tenure as the Railways minister. He was also instrumental in getting the Railway Wheel and Axle plant in Bengaluru.