Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Oscar Fernandes passed away in Mangalore on Monday. He was 80.
A sitting Member of the Rajya Sabha, he was critically injured after he fell accidentally while doing his regular exercise on July 20 this year. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in a super speciality hospital at Mangalore.
A veteran congress leader, Fernandes was the Union minister for transport, road highways, labour and employment in the UPA government headed by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He was regarded to have a solid working relationship with Congress leaders at all levels.
He served as the AICC General Secretary and was a close confidant of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and used to be known as a trouble-shooter for the party as he handled various situations.
Many prominent Congress leaders of Karnataka, former chief minister Siddaramaiah and State Congress chairman D.K. Shivakumar, as well as Lok Sabha opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge had rushed to pay their respects to the Congress veteran, a local Congress office bearer said on Monday.
Expressing his grief over the demise of the Congress leader, the former party president and senior leader Rahul Gandhi said, “My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Shri Oscar Fernandes Ji. It is a personal loss for me. He was a guide and mentor to many of us in the Congress Party. He will be missed and fondly remembered for his contributions.”
Congress Media Department head and General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said that a banyan tree of the congress party has fallen. “Oscar Fernandes ji was a guide, mentor, and organization builder, who connected to the Congress workers & they loved him in return. A “banyan tree” of the Congress Party has fallen. There will perhaps never be anyone like him. Our heartfelt homage to an eternal Congressman”, Surjewala said.
Born on March 27, 1941, Fernandes started his political career as Councillor of Udupi Municipal Council in 1972. He is survived by his wife Blossom Fernandes, son and a daughter.
PM condoles demise of Oscar Fernandes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed grief over the demise of Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes, who passed away in Mangalore at the age of 80.
“Saddened by the demise of Rajya Sabha MP Shri Oscar Fernandes Ji. In this sad hour, my thoughts and prayers are with his family and well-wishers. May his soul rest in peace,” the Prime Minister tweeted.
A sitting member of the Rajya Sabha, Fernandes passed away at a hospital in Mangalore where he was admitted after he fell accidentally while doing his regular exercise on July 20.
A nine-time MP, five terms in Lok Sabha and four in Rajya Sabha, Fernandes was considered to be close to interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi and had served in ministerial capacities during the UPA regime headed by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when he was appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation in 2004.
He also held the portfolios of Youth Affairs and Sports and Overseas Indian Affairs. In 2013, he was made a Cabinet minister from Road Transport and Highways.
Sonia Gandhi calls up Oscar’s wife, consoles her
Congress President Sonia Gandhi called up Blossom Fernandes, the wife of Oscar Fernandes, who passed away on Monday.
Sonia Gandhi tried to pacify Blossom Fernandes who was not able to speak and cried at the loss of her husband. Sonia said she must cherish beautiful memories of him (Oscar Fernandes).
“Don’t cry too much. You have so many beautiful memories of his. We all loved him. I don’t think there was anyone who disrespected him. Now, you must be strong for your children. I will speak to you after few days. Whatever you decide on final rites is fine with me,” Sonia said over the phone.
The audio of Sonia Gandhi talking to Blossom Fernandes has gone viral on the social media.
Oscar Fernandes and Blossom Fernandes were always seen together and cherished envious bondage.
Meanwhile, the family has shifted the body to the mortuary of the Father Muller hospital in Mangaluru. The body will be brought to Udupi, Mangaluru and Bengaluru Congress offices for his supporters to pay final respect. Family sources said, they will make a decision on final rites soon.