Nirmal Singh urges J-K Govt. to follow Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's guidelines

Saddened by the demise of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, his deputy Nirmal Singh on Thursday urged the PDP-BJP coalition government to work on the guidelines set by the former.

"It's a great loss not only for Jammu and Kashmir, but the entire country. We were completely shocked when we heard the news," Singh said.

He asserted that Sayeed was a very mature politician who had the vision not only for Jammu and Kashmir but entire nation.

"We wanted him to lead us for a longer period," he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that the PDP-BJP coalition government, under Sayeed's leadership, was working towards inclusive growth and development agenda.

"The people of Jammu and Kashmir had a feeling that this government is thinking about their development. I hope the coalition government will work on the guidelines set by him," he said.

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

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

Several prominent leaders, including Vice President Mohamed Hamid Ansari, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti visited the AIIMS on hearing of Sayeed's demise.

Sayeed, who was born in 1936 in Bijbehara, Jammu and Kashmir, had previously served as Chief Minister from 2002 to 2005. He was also the Home Minister of India from December 1989 to November 1990.

He had founded the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party in 1999.