'Nation has lost a great leader': Veerappa Moily, PM Narendra Modi condole Oscar Fernandes' death

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily on Monday condoled the death of former Union minister Oscar Fernandes, saying the nation has lost a great leader. Fernandes, a former Union minister and Rajya Sabha member, died at a private hospital in Mangaluru on Monday. He was 80, family sources said. Fernandes was hospitalised in July after he suffered a head injury due to a fall when practising yoga at his home. He had also undergone a surgery to remove a clot in his brain. “We have lost today one of the prominent leaders of the Congress party who served the party continuously for over five decades. He was loyal to the party and totally devoted to it. He worked together in the party from the district, state and the national level with me,” Moily, who worked closely with Fernandes in Karnataka, said in a statement. “For any party crisis, we always depended upon him and he was a crisis manager also. I have lost a personal friend, the nation has lost a great leader and the party has lost a devoted leader. My condolences to his family,” he said. PM Modi condoles death of Oscar Fernandes Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed anguish at the death of veteran Congress leader and former Union minister Oscar Fernandes. Fernandes died at a private hospital in Karnataka. He was 80. “Saddened by the demise of Rajya Sabha MP Shri Oscar Fernandes Ji. In this sad hour, my thoughts and prayers are with his family and well-wishers. May his soul rest in peace,” the prime minister said. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi termed the demise of Oscar as a ‘personal loss’. “My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Shri Oscar Fernandes Ji. It is a personal loss for me. He was a guide and mentor to many of us in the Congress Party. He will be missed and fondly remembered for his contributions," he tweeted.

My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Shri Oscar Fernandes Ji.
It is a personal loss for me. He was a guide and mentor to many of us in the Congress Party.

He will be missed and fondly remembered for his contributions. pic.twitter.com/NZVD592GSJ

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 13, 2021

President Ram Nath Kovind also mourned Fernandes’ demise. “Sad to learn that veteran parliamentarian Shri Oscar Fernandes is no more. He was a leader rooted to the ground and committed to the welfare of people. He will be deeply missed by all. Condolences to his family, friends and followers,” he tweeted.

Sad to learn that veteran parliamentarian Shri Oscar Fernandes is no more. He was a leader rooted to the ground and committed to the welfare of people. He will be deeply missed by all. Condolences to his family, friends and followers.

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 13, 2021

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The Congress official Twitter handle also paid tribute to their ‘stalwart’, saying, " We are deeply saddened by the demise of Shri Oscar Fernandes ji, our heartfelt condolences to his family. A Congress stalwart, his vision for an inclusive India had a huge influence on the politics of our times. The Congress family will deeply miss his mentorship & guidance."

We are deeply saddened by the demise of Shri Oscar Fernandes ji, our heartfelt condolences to his family.

A Congress stalwart, his vision for an inclusive India had a huge influence on the politics of our times.

The Congress family will deeply miss his mentorship & guidance. pic.twitter.com/UXcLI765yP

— Congress (@INCIndia) September 13, 2021