Former J&K Governor Satyapal Malik Passes Away
Veteran politician, who oversaw the abrogation of Article 370, dies at 79; PM Modi and other leaders offer condolences.
- Veteran politician Satyapal Malik, the last governor of Jammu and Kashmir, passed away at the age of 79 after a prolonged illness.
- His death occurred on August 5, the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, an event that took place during his tenure as governor.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, as did other political leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 5th Aug: Veteran politician Satyapal Malik, who served as the last governor of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 79 after a prolonged illness. His death, which occurred at a hospital in Delhi, came on a poignant date: the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, an event that took place under his governorship.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief in a social media post, stating, “Saddened by the passing away of Shri Satyapal Malik Ji. My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this hour of grief. Om Shanti.”
Known for his outspoken nature, Malik had a long and varied political career, serving as a member of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. He held gubernatorial posts in Bihar, Goa, and Meghalaya before being appointed to Jammu and Kashmir in 2018. During his time as governor, he oversaw the historic decision to revoke Article 370 and bifurcate the state into two Union Territories.
In the years following his governorship, he became a vocal critic of the central government, publicly questioning issues such as the 2019 Pulwama attack and lending his support to the farmers’ protests.
The news of his death prompted a wave of tributes from across the political spectrum. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, paid his respects to the “farmer-friendly leader” who “fearlessly and candidly held a mirror to the truth in front of those in power.” Similarly, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said he would remember Malik as a person who “fearlessly spoke the truth until his last moment.”
