Senior Congress leader Gurudas Kamat passes away

New Delhi, Aug 22 Senior Congress leader and previous association serve Gurudas Kamat passed away on Wednesday at a private healing facility 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 major misfortune to the nation.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, General Secretary All India Congress Committee (AICC) and previous chief minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot expressed, "Shocked and profoundly disheartened to hear the sudden end of Senior Congress leader Gurudas Kamat ji. His passing away is a hopeless misfortune for us. My ardent sympathies to his relatives, may god give them quality to shoulder this misfortune. May his spirit Rest in peace."

Another senior party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted, "shocked and profoundly anguished to find out about the sudden destruction of Senior Congress Leader Sh Gurudas Kamat ji. No words are sufficient to depict the feeling of misfortune. My most profound sympathies to his family, companions and supporters. I appeal to God for the departed soul."

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

Maharashtra Youth Congress leader Satyajeet Tambe Patil said that Kamat's passing is a personal loss for him. "shocked... My leader Gurudas Kamat is no more. It is my own misfortune and in addition 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 end of Shri Gurudas Kamat ji. One of the vital Congress pioneers of Maharashtra and a dignified man."

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also expressed grief on the Kamat's death. He stated, "Miserable to find out about downfall of Sri Gurudas Kamat ji. My genuine sympathies to his family and friends. May his spirit 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 child Dr Sunil Kamat.