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Former Defence Minister George Fernandes passes away
Born on June 3, 1930, George Fernandes not only served India as a defence minister but was also an Indian trade unionist, politician, journalist, agriculturist and member of Rajya Sabha from Bihar.
New Delhi: Former defence minister and anti-Emergency battler George Mathew Fernandes passed away, on Tuesday at the age of 88.
The brave Indian soldier's minister, Fernandes bade good-bye to this world at 7 a.m while fighting the deadly Swine flu infection, he was also withdrawn from public life over the past decade due to Alzheimer's, according to sources.
Fernandes, served as the defence minister between 1998 and 2004, in the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpyee. His last term as a parliamentarian was as Rajya Sabha MP between August 2009 and July 2010.
On his demise many political leaders condoled his death on social media:
PM Narendra Modi showed his grief by sharing his contribution towards the nation:
PM Modi tweets,George Sahab represented the best of India’s political leadership. Frank&fearless,forthright&farsighted, he made a valuable contribution to our country.He was among the most effective voices for the rights of the poor and marginalised. Saddened by his passing away. pic.twitter.com/b2RtGh7TDo
— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2019
While, Bihar Cheif Minister Nitish Kumar tweeted,
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar: I offer my deepest condolences on passing away of former defence minister George Fernandes. He was a fiery trade union leader who fought for justice. May his soul rest in peace. My thoughts are with his family. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/wB0yx5EU0p
— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2019
Born on June 3, 1930, George Fernandes not only served India as a defence minister but was also an Indian trade unionist, politician, journalist, agriculturist and member of Rajya Sabha from Bihar.
He was a key member of the Janata Dal Party, headed by Morarji Desai and was the founder of the Samata Party.
Fernandes rose to fame as an anti-Emergency crusader and challenged the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for imposing a state of emergency, but in 1976 he was arrested and tried in the infamous Baroda dynamite case.