Senior Congress leader Gurudas Kamat passes away

Senior Congress leader and former union minister Gurudas Kamat passed away on Wednesday at a private hospital in New Delhi. He was 63.

Kamat's body will be sent back to his hometown Mumbai at around 12.30 pm today.

Grieving over the loss, Congress leaders described his demise as a big loss to the country.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, General Secretary All India Congress Committee (AICC) and former chief minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot wrote, "Shocked and deeply saddened to hear the sudden demise of Senior Congress leader 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."

Another senior party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala 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."

Kamat was a commerce graduate from R.A. Podar College in Mumbai and also had a law degree from the city's Government Law College.

Maharashtra Youth Congress leader Satyajeet Tambe Patil said that Kamat's death is a personal loss for him. "Shocked ... My leader Gurudas Kamat is no more. It is my personal loss as well as unrepairable loss of Congress party (sic)," he tweeted.

Terming Kamat as one of the important Congress leaders of Maharashtra, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president Poonam Mahajan said,"Condolences on the demise of Shri Gurudas Kamat ji. One of the important Congress leaders of Maharashtra and a dignified man."

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also expressed grief on the Kamat's demise. 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."

Kamat was a former president of the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee. He was also Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs with an additional charge of the Communications and Information Technology ministry from 2009 to 2011.

Kamat is survived by his wife Maharookh Gurudas Kamat and son Dr Sunil Kamat.