Veteran Congressman and former Union Minister Sharief passes away
Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister CK Jaffer Sharief passed away today at a private hospital in Bengaluru following a cardiac arrest, doctors said. He was 85. Sharief was hospitalized after he collapsed while getting into his car for attending the Friday namaz. Family sources said Sharief was not keeping well for quite some time. He is survived by two daughters.
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Sharief had a political career spanning 50 years
Congress MLA and Sharief's family friend, NA Harris, told that the doctors had planned to implant pacemaker in his heart but he died before he could be brought to the operation table. Born on November 3, 1933, at Challakere in Chitradurga, Sharief had a political career spanning 50 years. He launched his career under the tutelage of the former Chief Minister S Nijalingappa.
Sharief sided with Indira Gandhi after split in Congress
Sharief had, however, sided with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi after the split in the Congress. He was a seven-time MP from Bengaluru North constituency and had served as the Railway Minister in the PV Narasimha Rao government between 1991-1995. Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who rushed to the hospital, said Sharief was close to his father and former Prime Minister HD Devegowda.
'Sharief emerged as leader of every citizen of the state'
"Jaffer Sharief was not restricted to the minority community but had emerged as a leader of every citizen of the state. He was a great leader who gifted various Central Government schemes, especially railway projects, to the state," Kumaraswamy said.
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Sharief had on occasions threatened to quit the Congress
Sharief had on occasions threatened to quit the Congress, sulking over being "sidelined" in the party and being denied ticket, but had withdrawn it on being pacified by the party high command. The RSS, with which Sharief had maintained cordial relations, condoled his death and said he was well known to many senior sangh functionaries. Several other political leaders also condoled Sharief's death.
