New Delhi [India], August 5 (ANI): President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday expressed grief over the passing of former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik. In a post on X, the President said, “The news of the demise of Shri Satyapal Malik ji is sad. I express my condolences to his family and supporters.”
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also extended his condolences and prayed for the departed soul. “The demise of Shri Satyapal Malik Ji, former Governor of Goa, Bihar, Meghalaya, and Jammu-Kashmir, is extremely sad! May God grant peace to his soul. Deep condolences to the grieving family. Heartfelt tribute!” he posted on X.
Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot mourned the loss, recalling Malik’s active public life and commitment to social causes. “The news of the demise of former Governor Shri Satyapal Malik is extremely sad. I offer my humble tributes to him. A few days ago, I visited him at RML Hospital in Delhi to inquire about his well-being. He had been unwell for some time, and everyone was concerned about his health. He remained continuously active in the public sphere, held many positions, and his spirit of struggle will always be remembered,” Gehlot said in a social media post.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed sorrow at the news, as did Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Mallikarjun Kharge, who shared their condolences publicly.
Satyapal Malik passed away in New Delhi on Tuesday at the age of 79 following a prolonged illness. He breathed his last at 1:10 pm at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, according to his Personal Secretary, KS Rana.
Malik served as the last Governor of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir from August 2018 to October 2019. It was during his tenure that the Central government abrogated Article 370, leading to the reorganisation of the state into two Union Territories.
Influenced by the socialist ideology of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, Malik entered politics in the mid-1960s. He became President of the Meerut College Students’ Union in 1966-67 and of the Students’ Union at the then Meerut University (now Chaudhary Charan Singh University) in 1968-69.
He began his legislative career in 1974, winning the Baghpat Assembly seat on the Bharatiya Kranti Dal ticket and serving as the party’s Chief Whip in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. He was appointed All-India General Secretary of the Lok Dal in 1975 and was later nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1980.
In 2004, Malik joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and contested from the Baghpat Lok Sabha seat. He held several key positions within the BJP, including Vice President of the Uttar Pradesh unit (2005-06), All-India Incharge of the BJP Kisan Morcha (2009), and National Vice President (2012, reappointed in 2014). He played a significant role in shaping the BJP’s agricultural manifesto for the 2014 general elections and led farmer rallies across the country.
His contributions to public life were recognized with appointments as Governor of Bihar in 2017, and subsequently of Jammu and Kashmir in 2018. He also served as Governor of Goa and Meghalaya in later years.
Over his decades-long political journey, Malik held several significant posts, including Member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly (1974–77), Member of Parliament in both Rajya Sabha (1980–84, 1986–89) and Lok Sabha (1989–91), and Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism in 1990. He also served on the Panel of Chairmen in the Rajya Sabha and the Panel of Speakers in the Lok Sabha.
His death marks the end of a long and varied public career dedicated to politics, governance, and social justice. (ANI)
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