George Fernandes Dies at 88: Key Highlights of The Political Career of Former Defence Minister
In his five-decade career, George Fernandes has seen several ups and down. Here’s a look at the social reformer’s political career.
New Delhi, January 29: Former Union defence minister George Fernandes breathed his last in the national capital at 7 am on Tuesday at the age of 88 years. The socialist icon was suffering from prolonged illness and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. However, several media reports state the former minister was diagnosed with swine flu a few days ago, and this deteriorated his health.
In his five-decade career, Fernandes has seen several ups and down. Staring from the Anti-emergency movement in the late ’70s to serving as the Union defence minister in late PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government between 1998 and 2004, Fernandes has seen the politics of changing India. George Fernandes Dies: Former Defence Minister Breathes His Last at 88.
Let's look at the highlights of socialist icon’s career:
- George Fernandes started his political career as a trade Union in Mumbai in the late ’50s and organised several bandhs, while working with the Indian Railways.
- Defeated S K Patil of Indian National Congress in the 1967 parliamentary elections from the South Bombay seat and organised Railway strike in 1974, while being the President of the All India Railwaymen's Federation.
- He had challenged then PM Indira Gandhi’s imposed Emergency and was arrested in 1976 for infamous Baroda dynamite case. After the Emergency, he fought the elections in 1977 in absentia from Muzaffarpur in Bihar and won.
- In the Janata Party government – post Emergency, he became the Union Minister of Industries and forced IBM and Coca-Cola to leave the country, stating investment violations.
- When the Janata Party government again came to power 1989, he became the Railways Minister and was the driving force behind the Konkan Railway project.
- During his stint with as Union defence minister in the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1999, he was the driving force behind the famous nuclear tests in Pokhran. Also, he was the man behind strengthening India during Kargil War with Pakistan.
- George Fernandes’ name also cited in controversies and scandals like Barak Missile scandal and Tehelka affair. Though he was never convicted in any of the cases.
- The socialist reformer-turned-politician and founder of Samata Party, won nine Lok Sabha elections from 1967 to 2004.
- Fernandes has penned several books on politics such as What Ails the Socialists (1972), The Kashmir Problem, Railway Strike of 1974, Dignity for All: Essays in Socialism and Democracy (1991), and his autobiography titled George Fernandes Speaks (1991).
With the sudden demise of George Fernandes, a political vacuum has created in India. We at LatestLY express our deepest condolences for the mass socialist leader.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 29, 2019 10:42 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).