Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 28: K D Sethi, who was the last surviving member of the Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly, passed away at his residence here today.
He was 93.
Sethi was a member of the Constituent Assembly — a body of representatives elected in 1951 — which framed the Constitution of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir. The Constituent Assembly was dissolved on January 26, 1957.
Born in Mirpur, Pakistan occupied Kashmir, on January 1, 1928, Sethi was a popular leader. He had migrated to Jammu in 1946. Seth, who strongly batted for the resolution of the Kashmir issue, served as the State general secretary of the Democratic Conference. He represented the Nowshera Assembly segment of Rajouri district.
He is survived by a son Achal Sethi, Secretary, Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and a daughter Smita Sethi, Director Social Welfare Jammu.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed grief over the demise of Sethi.
“Saddened by the passing away of Krishan Dev Sethi, Ex MLA #Nowshera & father of Law Secretary J&K, Achal Sethi. He was also the last surviving member of J&K Constituent Assembly”, Sinha said in a tweet.
PDP president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti remembered Sethi as a fatherly figure.
“Deeply saddened to know of Sethi Sahab’s demise. I was hoping to see him in Jammu. He treated me like a daughter and will always be an integral part of my childhood. Will miss his wisdom & guidance,” she tweeted.
National Conference president and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah and vice-president Omar Abdullah have expressed profound grief over the demise of Sethi.
“He was among many who gave intellectual leadership to his people when J&K was undergoing a change from feudalism to democracy”, they said.
Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari also expressed grief over the demise of the veteran leader and said he was a versatile politician and an intellectual.
Pradesh Congress Committee chief G A Mir described Sethi as a far-sighted leader who always stood for his ideological commitments and worked for peace and religious brotherhood.
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