Satyapal Malik, former Jammu and Kashmir Governor and veteran politician passed away at the age of 79 on Tuesday.
Malik had been battling kidney-related ailments, and was receiving treatment at Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.
A prominent Jat leader from Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh, Malik began his political career as a student leader and was first elected as an MLA in 1974 representing Chaudhary Charan Singh’s Bharatiya Kranti Dal.
Over the years, he served as a Rajya Sabha MP and later as a Lok Sabha MP from Aligarh under the Janata Dal banner.
His political journey saw him move through several parties, including the Congress, Lok Dal, and Samajwadi Party.
Malik was appointed the Governor of Bihar in 2017 and later given additional charge of Odisha.
In August 2018, he became the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, then a full state. He was in office during two significant events: the Centre’s revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019, which led to the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories, and the Pulwama terror attack that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel.
Following his tenure in Jammu and Kashmir, Malik served as Governor of Goa and Meghalaya.
In recent years, Malik gained attention for his outspoken criticism of the Narendra Modi government. His relationship with the BJP soured around 2020-21, particularly after he expressed support for the farmers protesting against the now-repealed farm laws.
In a 2023 interview, Malik alleged that the Centre had asked him to remain silent over lapses that led to the Pulwama attack.
He claimed that the CRPF’s request for air transport was denied, forcing the troops to travel by road, making them vulnerable to the attack.
The BJP responded by highlighting past instances where Malik had praised the government, questioning his credibility.
Malik’s criticism brought him closer to the Opposition. In 2023, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi interviewed him, during which Malik reiterated his allegations. Gandhi, now the Leader of the Opposition, visited Malik at the hospital in May.
Satyapal Malik’s death marks the end of a long and eventful political career spanning several decades and key moments in Indian politics.