New Delhi :Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, who was undergoing treatment at a Gurugram hospital after testing positive for the COVID-19, passed away on Wednesday morning. Patel breathed his last after multi-organ failure in the wee hours today. He was 71.
Taking to twitter, his son Faisal Patel said that the Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat died at 3.30 am on Wednesday.
"With profound grief & sorrow, I regret to announce the sad & untimely demise of my father, Mr. Ahmed Patel at 25/11/2020, 03:30 AM. After testing positive for COVID-19 around a month back, his health worsened further due to multiple organ failures. May Allah grant him Jannatul firdaus, inshallah," he tweeted, requesting all their well-wishers to adhere to the COVID-19 regulations by avoiding mass gatherings and also to maintain social distancing norms at all times," Faisal tweeted.
Patel, also the Treasurer of the Indian National Congress, had tested positive for the COVID-19 on October 1 and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on November 15.
On October 1, Patel, while disclosing that he was tested positive for the COVID-19, had urged all those who came in contact with him in past few days to undergo self-isolation.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled Ahmed Patel's demise. President Kovind said that he was distressed to know of the demise of Patel, whose amiability won him friends across party lines. "Distressed to know that veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel is no more. An astute Parliamentarian, Shri Patel combined the skills of a strategist and the charm of a mass leader. His amiability won him friends across party lines. My condolences to his family and friends," Kovind said in a tweet.
Venkaiah Naidu said that Patel was an able parliamentarian and maintained cordial relations with leaders across political spectrum. "Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of Rajya Sabha MP Ahmed Patel. He was an able parliamentarian and always maintained cordial relations with leaders across the political spectrum," the Vice President Secretariat tweeted quoting Naidu. Naidu, who is also Rajya Sabha chairperson, extended condolences to the bereaved family members.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Patel's role in strengthening the opposition party will always be remembered. Patel spent years in public life, serving the society, he noted. "Saddened by the demise of Ahmed Patel Ji. He spent years in public life, serving society. Known for his sharp mind, his role in strengthening the Congress Party would always be remembered. Spoke to his son Faisal and expressed condolences. May Ahmed Bhai's soul rest in peace," the PM tweeted.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi condoled Ahmed Patel's demise, saying she has lost an "irreplaceable comrade, a faithful colleague and a friend" whose entire life was dedicated to the party. "In Shri Ahmed Patel, I have lost a colleague, whose entire life was dedicated to the Congress Party. His faithfulness and dedication, his commitment to his duty, his always being there to help, his generosity were rare qualities that distinguished him from others. I have lost an irreplaceable comrade, a faithful colleague and a friend. I mourn his passing and I feel deeply for his bereaved family to whom I offer my sincere feelings of empathy and support," the Congress president said.