Former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satyapal Malik, who was suffering from multiple health issues, breathed his last today.
The 79-year-old was admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on May 11, with a complicated urinary tract infection, and had subsequently developed “refractory septic shock secondary to urinary tract infection, hospital-acquired pneumonia and multi-organ dysfunction”.
"It is with deep regret that we confirm the demise of Satyapal Malik, who had been receiving intensive care at our facility," the RML authorities said in a statement. “The patient had a longstanding history of diabetic kidney disease, hypertension, and other chronic health issues, including morbid obesity and obstructive sleep apnea.”
Malik had the distinction of being the last governor of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, as it was during his tenure (August 2018 – October 2019) that Article 370 was abrogated on August 5, 2019, thus revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
The outspoken Malik also served as the governor of Goa, Bihar, Meghalaya, and Odisha, and was also a member of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Here is a look at some instances when he courted controversy.
Malik alleged that he was offered a bribe to clear files of two major projects in Jammu and Kashmir. The CBI took over the investigation and filed a chargesheet against him in May this year in the Rs 2,200-crore Kiru hydropower project case. On June 7, Malik had posted on X that he was offered “Rs 150-150 crore” as bribe, but he had cancelled the tender and had informed PM Narendra Modi about the corruption. He went in to claim that the tender was, however, passed with someone else’s signature. Malik added that the Centre was trying to defame him.
He had also said that Modi was “doesn’t care” and is “not much averse to corruption”, retiterating his claim of being offered a bribe.
Malik claimed he was removed as governor of Goa in August 2020 and sent to Meghalaya because he highlighted several instances of graft. He added that he brought it to PM Modi’s attention but neither he nor the government took any action.
Malik was especially critical of the Narendra Modi-led Union government over the 2019 Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel. He had alleged that there were serious security lapses and intelligence failures that led to the attack, and claimed that a request by the paramilitary force for an aircraft was denied, which led to the soldiers travelling by road. In a retaliatory attack, the Indian Air Force later targeted terror camps in Balakot in Pakistan.
On the Pulwama terror attack, Malik claimed that he was asked to keep quiet by PM Modi, and indicated that it was done to reap electoral benefits in the Lok Sabha elections that year. He had also said that the prime minister was “ill-informed” and “ignorant” about Kashmir.
In 2022, at a function in Dadri in Haryana, Malik had accused PM Modi of behaving arrogantly when he went to discuss the farmers protest over the controversial farm laws. He, however, did a U-turn later and said his remarks were misconstrued.