Former union minister Khurshed Alam Khan died at a private hospital here on Saturday. He was 95. Khan,father of External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid,was admitted to the hospital six days ago after he complained of chest pain. In a condolence message,PM Manmohan Singh called his demise an irreparable loss. His leadership in Indias foreign policy,education system and legislative affairs contributed immensely to the countrys modern,liberal and democratic polity, he said. His commitment to the nation was rooted in the abiding values of our Constitution and the idea of India envisioned by our founding fathers. Singh said Khans work as foreign minister,Parliamentarian and educationist leaves a legacy which future generations must emulate and nurture. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi tweeted,Sad to know of demise of Shri Khurshid Alam Khan. May his soul rest in peace. My condolences to Shri Salman Khurshid & his family. The son-in-law of former President Dr Zakir Husain,Khan played a major role in the creation of the Jamia Milia Islamia as an independent university through a parliamentary law. He later served as its chancellor. Born in Pitaura village in Farrukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh,he was elected to Lok Sabha in 1984 but resigned in July 1989 after being appointed Governor of Goa. Then he shifted to Karnataka in 1991. As Union minister,he had held portfolios of education,textiles,tourism,transport besides external affairs.
