STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Veteran Congress leader and former minister Madan Lal Sharma passed away at a private hospital in Katra on Wednesday morning.
The 68-year-old is survived by wife, a son and two daughters.
He was first elected as MLA in 1983 and again in 1987 from Chhamb consitituency on Congress mandate, a party spokesman said.
He became minister in the NC-Congress coalition government in 1988.He was again elected from Akhnoor in 2002 and became a minister in the PDP-Congress government.
Sharma was twice elected to the Lok Sabha from Jammu- Poonch seat in 2004 and 2009. However, he lost the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Advisors to the Lieutenant, Farooq Khan and Baseer Ahmad Khan also condoled the demise of Madan Lal Sharma. “Madan Lal Sharma always worked dedicatedly for the welfare of the people,” Farooq Khan.
Baseer Ahmad said, “former Parliamentarian, Madan Lal Sharma dedicated his entire life in the service of public good.” He said that the deceased was always at the fore front in the service of humanity and accessible to people at all times.
“His death is being widely mourned in political and social circles. The entire rank and file of the party has deeply mourned his death and prayed for peace to the departed soul”, chief spokesperson, JKPCC, Ravinder Sharma said.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress committee chief G A Mir expressed sorrow over the death of the veteran leader, saying his death has created a great void in the party.
Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari also expressed grief over the demise of Sharma.
I am grieved over the passing away of Madan Lal Ji–a leader who had dedicated his whole life for the service of public welfare. As a minister also, he was accessible to the people especially to his electorate, Bukhari observed. In his condolence message, senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (Rajya Sabha), Ghulam Nabi Azad said “My association with him goes back to our Youth Congress days in 1970s. We had a long & steadfast association since then and his demise is a personal loss for me. He was a popular leader & served as MLA, Minister in J&K & later as MP besides holding various positions in Congress.”
Former Minister J&K Yogesh Sawhney, General Secretary JKPCC & Incharge District President Jammu (U) “He was a voice for Jammu, his demise is a great loss to the party and all of us,” Sawhney added.
Prominent Congress among those who also condoled the death of Madan Lal Sharma and remembered his services to the people and the party included Dharam Plal Sharma, Raman Bhalla, Mula Ram, G.M. Saroori, Kanta Bhan; Gurmukh Singh, Ravinder Sharma, Rjnish Sharma, Th. Balwan Singh, Th. Manmohan Singh Yogesh Sawhney, Jugal Kishore Sharma, R.S. Chib, Shah Mohammad Choudhary, Ashok Dogra, Indu Pawar.
In a statement issued to press, former Union Minister, Prof Saif-ud-din Soz said, “I feel sad on demise of Senior Congress leader Madan Lal Sharma. He served the best interests of Congress in J&K and will be remembered long for his commitment towards party.” National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Omar Abdullah have also expressed deep grief over passing away of senior Congress leader and former Member Parliament Madan Lal Sharma.
In their condolences messages, Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah recalled contributions of Congress leader towards welfare of people in different capacities.
They conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for peace to the departed soul and prayed for strength to family to bear this irreparable loss. Provincial President Devender Singh Rana and senior leaders also expressed grief and shock over the demise of Madan Lal Sharma and prayed for peace to departed soul. Former MLC Subash Gupta condoled untimely and sad demise of Madan Lal Sharma. Others who paid tributes to the veteran leader included Yugal Kishor Bali, Vinay Sharma sarpanch, Bhushan sangra, Parveen Bhagat, Ramesh Kundal, Anant Ram Dogra, Harbhajan Saini, Kamal Gupta, Bhagwan Dass and Desh Bandhu. Senior Vice President People’s Conference & former Minister Abdul Gani Vakil also expressed grief and shock on demise of Madan Lal Sharma and described his death as irreparable loss to