After the passing of Tarun Gogoi in Assam on Monday, the Congress party suffered yet another loss this week with the death of veteran leader Ahmed Patel in the early hours of November 25. Patel, a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from Gujarat, died of multiple organ failure. He had also tested positive for Covid-19 on October 1, after which he was undergoing treatment at Medanta Hospital where he breathed his last.

News of his death was shared by his son Faisal:

@ahmedpatel pic.twitter.com/7bboZbQ2A6

— Faisal Patel (@mfaisalpatel) November 24, 2020

The 71-year-old was best known for his crisis management skills that earned him the confidence of none other than Sonia Gandhi. Shortly after his demise, she released a statement calling him “colleague, whose entire life was dedicated to the Congress party.”

Congress President Smt Sonia Gandhi’s condolence message on the demise of Shri Ahmed Patel. pic.twitter.com/JiOwjr3j1n

— Congress (@INCIndia) November 25, 2020

Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi too condoled the passing away of one of the pillars of the party:

It is a sad day. Shri Ahmed Patel was a pillar of the Congress party. He lived and breathed Congress and stood with the party through its most difficult times. He was a tremendous asset.

We will miss him. My love and condolences to Faisal, Mumtaz & the family. pic.twitter.com/sZaOXOIMEX

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 25, 2020

Ahmed ji was not only a wise and experienced colleague to whom I constantly turned for advice and counsel, he was a friend who stood by us all, steadfast, loyal, and dependable to the end.
His passing away leaves an immense void. May his soul rest in peace.

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) November 25, 2020

His death is being seen as an irreparable loss for the Congress. Many senior leaders across party lines condoled Patel’s passing.

A terribly sad day. My tributes to Ahmed Patel. pic.twitter.com/dvXKDirghr

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) November 25, 2020

Deeply shocked and saddened to learn that my dear friend Ahmed Patel passed away in the early hours of today

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) November 25, 2020

Extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Mr Ahmed Patel, who was a lynchpin of the Indian National Congress.

On behalf of the DMK, I extend my condolences to his family as well as the Congress cadres who are mourning his loss. pic.twitter.com/ymWV9rqGlj

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) November 25, 2020

Deeply saddened to know about the demise of veteren congress leader Shri Ahmed Patel. His contribution to @INCIndia will always be remembered.
My sincere condolences to members of his family.

— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) November 25, 2020

Saddened by the demise of Ahmed Patel Ji. He spent years in public life, serving society. Known for his sharp mind, his role in strengthening the Congress Party would always be remembered. Spoke to his son Faisal and expressed condolences. May Ahmed Bhai’s soul rest in peace.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 25, 2020

Deeply saddened to know about the passing away of @ahmedpatel ji. In my interaction with him over the past year, I came to know him as someone very accommodative, open to ideas and different perspectives. My prayers for his soul and his family

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) November 25, 2020

Born on 21, 2949 in Bharuch in Gujarat, Patel represented the state in the Parliament eight times; three times in the Lok Sabha and five times in the Rajya Sabha. He had served as parliamentary secretary to late Rajiv Gandhi in 1985-86. He was also Gujarat Congress president in 1985-86 as well as 1992-96. He had also been a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) since 1992. Patel also served as party treasurer between 1996 to 2000. He served as a key advisor to Sonia Gandhi between 2001 and 2017. In 2018, Rahul Gandhi re-appointed Patel as treasurer.

Ahmed Patel was also known for his unwavering commitment to secularism and the need to build and sustain strong alliances with like-minded political parties and leaders. His loss is truly irreparable.

Related:

Tarun Gogoi passes away!

The post Ahmed Patel passes away appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Income Tax department has issued summons to senior Congress party leader Ahmed Patel under Section 131 of the Income Tax Act for alleged violations of Section 13A which deals with exemptions for political parties with conditions, reported the Indian Express. Patel, who currently holds the post of the treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, was sent summons for alleged undeclared party collections and election expenses totaling over Rs 550 crore.

It is noteworthy that last year, just before the general elections the IT Department had raided 52 different places spread across Bhopal, Indore, Goa and New Delhi. Subsequently, similar raids took place in October 2019, and as recently as February 6, 2020 in Hyderabad, Vijaywada and other locations. During the February raids, 40 locations connected with an enterprise called Megha International Infrastructure Ltd., were searched. The IT department first issued summons on February 11, asking Patel to appear on February 14. When he didn’t, summons were issued again on February 18.  

Patel told the Indian Express, “Such contributions are received by every political party and I will respond to the summons soon, probably after the upcoming Parliament session.”

The total calculation of alleged violations is pegged at Rs 400 crores as per summons issued to the party in October 2019. As far as additional receipts to the party from persons searched in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Cuddapah, Visakhapatnam and Delhi on February 6, 2020, the IT Department alleged it had detected siphoning of more than Rs 2,000 crore and a part of this had been paid to the Congress party, reported the Indian Express.

Allegations of corruption are not new in politics, and parties of all hues and political leanings have faced a myriad of such accusations. Many top leaders have also been convicted and imprisoned. What is also common is for the ruling regime to use all resources including government machinery to go after and destabilise political rivals. What is noteworthy here is that Ahmed Patel is a close confidant of Sonia Gandhi herself. In fact, after P Chidambaram slipped out of their fingers, Patel was the next big catch. BJP had hitherto been taking potshots at Congress’s politics, alleging dynastic succession and elitism. Now it is going after the party’s financial resources, forcing it into a choke-hold, gasping for breath.

The post IT Dept summons Ahmed Patel for Congress party’s collections appeared first on SabrangIndia.