Former J&K Governor Satyapal Malik Passes Away at 79: President Murmu, PM Modi, and Leaders Pay Tribute

New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik passed away on Tuesday in the national capital following a prolonged illness. He was 79. Malik breathed his last at 1:10 PM at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, according to his Personal Secretary, K.S. Rana. His passing has led to an outpouring of grief and condolences from leaders across the political spectrum, including President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and several senior opposition figures.

President Murmu expressed her sorrow in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The news of the demise of Shri Satyapal Malik ji is sad. I express my condolences to his family and supporters.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mourned the loss of the former Governor, praying for eternal peace to the departed soul and expressing condolences to the bereaved family.

National Leaders Remember the Legacy of Satyapal Malik Death

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, in a heartfelt message, said, “The demise of Shri Satyapal Malik Ji, former Governor of Goa, Bihar, Meghalaya, and Jammu-Kashmir, is extremely sad! May God grant peace to his soul. Deep condolences to the grieving family. Heartfelt tribute!” His post on X reflected the loss felt across party lines.

Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot shared a personal remembrance, noting that he had recently visited Malik at RML Hospital. “The news of the demise of former Governor Shri Satyapal Malik is extremely sad. I offer my humble tributes to him. He had been unwell for some time, and everyone was concerned about his health. He remained continuously active in the public sphere, held many positions, and his spirit of struggle will always be remembered,” Gehlot wrote.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Mallikarjun Kharge also extended their tributes, acknowledging Malik’s role in shaping Indian politics through the decades.

Political Journey and Contributions

Satyapal Malik was a prominent figure in Indian politics, best known for serving as the last Governor of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir from August 2018 to October 2019. It was during his tenure that Article 370 was abrogated by the Central Government, marking a historic shift that led to the bifurcation of the state into the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Inspired by socialist thinker Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, Malik entered politics in 1965–66. He began his journey as the President of the Meerut College Students’ Union in 1966–67, followed by leadership of the Students’ Union at Meerut University (now Chaudhary Charan Singh University) in 1968–69.

He made his legislative debut in 1974 by winning the Baghpat Assembly seat on the Bharatiya Kranti Dal ticket and served as the party’s Chief Whip in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. In 1975, he became the All-India General Secretary of the newly formed Lok Dal and was later nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1980 from the same party.

Association with BJP and Later Roles

After a brief political hiatus, Malik joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2004 and contested the Baghpat Lok Sabha seat. He served in various roles within the BJP, including as Vice President of the Uttar Pradesh BJP (2005–06), All-India Incharge of BJP Kisan Morcha (2009), and National Vice President of the party in 2012 and again in 2014. He played a key role in crafting the BJP’s agricultural manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and addressed numerous farmer rallies across the country.

His contributions were recognized when he was appointed Governor of Bihar in 2017. A year later, on August 23, 2018, he took oath as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. He also served as Governor of Goa and Meghalaya, earning a reputation for being outspoken and accessible.

Throughout his political career, Satyapal Malik held several significant positions:

• Member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly (1974–77)
• Member of Rajya Sabha (1980–84, 1986–89)
• Member of Lok Sabha (1989–91)
• Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism (April to November 1990)
  He also served on the Panel of Chairmen in the Rajya Sabha and Panel of Speakers in the Lok Sabha.

Satyapal Malik was known for his strong views, independent stance, and commitment to public welfare. His death is being mourned as the loss of a veteran leader whose political career spanned over five decades, touching nearly every arm of democratic governance in India.

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