Former union minister Gurudas Kamat dies after heart attack

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Aug 22: Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Gurudas Kamat died at a private hospital in New Delhi on Wednesday. He was 63.

He was reportedly rushed to Primus Hospital in Chanakyapuri after suffering a heart attack.

Kamat was a Member of Parliament for the Mumbai North West constituency in 2009 and the Mumbai North East constituency in 1984, 1991, 1998 and 2004. He was Union Minister of State for Home Affairs with an additional charge of the Communications and Information Technology ministry from 2009 to 2011. In July 2011, he resigned as the minister.

He was also a former president of the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee.

An advocate by profession, Kamat was a Commerce graduate from the RA Podar College in Mumbai and also had a law degree from the Government Law College in Mumbai.

Condoling Kamat’s demise, Congress general secretary and former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot termed it an “irreparable loss” for the party. “Shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the sudden demise of Senior Congress leader Sh. Gurudas Kamat ji. His passing away is an irreparable loss for us. My heartfelt condolences to his family members, may god give them strength to bear this loss. May his soul Rest in peace (sic),” Gehlot tweeted.

“Shocked and deeply anguished to learn about the sudden demise of Senior Congress Leader Sh Gurudas Kamat ji. No words are enough to describe the sense of loss. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and followers. I pray for the departed soul,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

Maharashtra Youth Congress leader Satyajeet Tambe Patil termed Kamat’s demise a “personal loss”. “Shocked ... My leader Gurudas Kamat is no more . It is my personal loss as well as unrepairable loss of Congress party (sic),” he said.

"Sad to hear about demise of Sri Gurudas Kamat ji. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. May his soul rest in peace," Union minister Nitin Gadkari tweeted