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Cong leader Murli Deora passes away in Mumbai
Murli Deora, veteran Congress leader from Maharashtra and former Petroleum Minister, died here this morning after prolonged illness. He was 77.
Mumbai: Murli Deora, veteran Congress leader from Maharashtra and former Petroleum Minister, died here this morning after prolonged illness. He was 77.
Murli bhai, as he was fondly called, breathed his last at around 3.25 am, according to family sources. He is survived by his wife and two sons, including former MP Milind Deora.
The former Union Minister, who held Petroleum and Corporate Affairs Ministries during UPA rule, was serving his third term as a Rajya Sabha MP.
Deora was India's longest serving Petroleum Minister and held important posts in the the party and government during his over four-decade-long career. He was elected to Lok Sabha four times from Mumbai South and had also served as the president of Mumbai Congress for 22 years.
A Gandhi family loyalist and a close confidant of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Deora was a key party fund raiser who was on personal terms with most of India's well-known industralists.
PM Narendra Modi, Congress leaders and others condoled Deora's demise and said he was popular across party lines.
"Just yesterday I had spoken to Shri Murli Deora's family & asked about his health. Very sad to hear the unfortunate news today," Modi said on Twitter.
"My deepest condolences to the Deora family on Shri Murli Deora's demise. May his soul rest in peace. "The entire Congress party stands with the members of Shri Deora's family in this hour of grief," said Sonia Gandhi who along with party Vice President Rahul Gandhi will be going to Mumbai to convey her condolences.
Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said the country has lost a veteran Parliamentarian.
"I am deeply saddened by the demise of Murli Deora. We have lost a veteran Parliamentarian and an experienced administrator," the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said.
Digvijay Singh said, "Murli Bhai is no more. A personal loss to me. A great Patriot and a Congress Stalwart we shall miss his wit and his sane advice." "One of the most amiable persons I knew. He had friends across party lines. We shall forever miss him.”
