Mufti Sayeed played significant role in bringing J-K closer to mainstream politics: Jitendra Singh

Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh on Thursday condoled the demise of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, saying the veteran leader had played a significant role in bringing the state's politics closer to the mainstream politics of India.

"Mufti ji was the last surviving veterans in present time from the first generation of post independence and statesman. It is definitely a big loss. The biggest attribute of his personality was that he had the capacity to rise above the party lines and regardless of different party affiliation and ideology, he used to take everyone along..He played a significant role in bringing J&K politics closer to the mainstream politics of India," Singh told ANI here.

"We had a leader who had the capacity to rise above the party lines and also to carry people across the party lines and that is why even in the coalition he had the capacity to agree to disagree on certain contentious issues and yet agree to move ahead for the larger interest of the common masses and the common man," he added.

79-year-old Sayeed passed away at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) this morning due to multiple organ failure.

He was admitted a private ward in AIIMS on December 24 after he complained of fever and chest pain.

He had previously served as Chief Minister from 2002 to 2005. He was also the Home Minister of India from December 1989 to November 1990. Sayeed had founded the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party in 1999.