By P. Sarojini
Gurgaon, India (CWBN)_ Gujarat Rajya Sabha MP and senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel passed away on Wednesday morning in Gurgaon hospital following complications related to Covid-19. The veteran MP, 71, was admitted to the Medanta Hospital after he tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
His son, Faisal Patel, shared the sad news on his Twitter account. “With profound grief & sorrow, I regret to announce the sad and 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,” the message read. He also requested that people follow Covid-19 guidelines such as maintaining social distancing and avoiding mass gatherings as precautions against the spread of the virus.
Mr Patel tested positive for the novel coronavirus on October 1 and was kept in isolation. He requested that everyone who came into contact with him gets tested for Covid-19. The MP was admitted in the ICU at Medanta Hospital on November 15 following a decline in his health; it was there that he battled Covid-19 complications and multiple organ failures.
National leaders and the political personalities conveyed their condolence and tributes in the social media platforms once the announcement was made.
Mr Patel was the treasurer of the Congress party and one of the closest political advisors to the Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi. He served the Congress party throughout his life and had remained immensely supportive of the party. Mourning his death, Mrs Sonia Gandhi stated that Mr Patel’s death was a great loss to the party and that she had lost an “irreplaceable comrade and a faithful colleague and a friend”. She also said, “I have lost a colleague, whose entire life was dedicated to the Congress party”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his condolence in a tweet saying, “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”.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi mourned for Mr Patel’s death and said he was the pillar of Congress Party and that his loss can never be replaced. He tweeted, “He lived and breathed Congress and stood with the party through its most difficult times. He was a tremendous asset. We will miss him. My love and condolences to Faisal, Mumtaz & the family.”
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that Mr Patel was a highly experienced politician whom she always turns to for counselling and advice. She tweeted, “…he was a friend who stood by us all, steadfast, loyal, and dependable to the end”.
It was announced that Mr Patel’s last rites will take place in his native Bharuch in Gujarat; his body is to be transported through a chartered flight. Sources close to the MP said that Mr Patel’s body will be buried next to his parents’ cemetery in his hometown, thereby fulfilling his last wish.
