Congress leader, former MP Wasim Ahmad passes away

Former Member of Parliament - Rajya Sabha, Congress leader, AMU Court member, and Executive Council member, Wasim Ahmad passed away after a cardiac arrest in the late hours of Sunday (25th April) in Aligarh. He was 69.

Born on March 1, 1952, at Patiali in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh, Wasim Ahmad was a trained Civil Engineer but was passionate about politics from his student days. He became the Secretary of AMU Students’ Union in 1979. He was very active in the movement for the restoration of the minority character of AMU (1971-81), along with other student leaders of that time, namely Arif Mohammad Khan, Mohd. Azam Khan, Jawed Habib, Akhtarul Wasey, Z.K. Faizan among others and was jailed many times during that movement.

In 1977, he actively participated in campaigning for the Janata Party candidates for Lok Sabha and U.P. Assembly elections. When Janata Dal was formed in 1988, he was associated with VP Singh.

Wasim Ahmad was All India Secretary - Janata Dal (1990-94), and All India General Secretary, Janata Dal (1994-96). He was also a member of the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh for a short period (November 1996 to July 1998). After the fall of IK Gujral’s United Front government in 1998, he, along with Jaipal Reddy, Srikanth Jena and other Janata Dal leaders joined Congress Party and was appointed member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC).

Known for his humble nature and gentle behaviour, Wasim Ahmad was very popular among the media persons of Delhi and all over the country and was a regular visitor at the Press Club of India, INS Building Rafi Marg, and the media enclave at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg.

According to a veteran journalist of Aligarh and his longtime friend Tariq Hasan, "Wasim bhai represented the essence of the Aligarh spirit. His humour and wit, his commitment to friends and his love for his alma mater was matchless. Like all of us, he had his share of weaknesses. His fiery temper cost him many friends. For many years he was out of touch with me. But whenever there was a crisis or a family tragedy he was the first to arrive despite his ill health. That was the mark of a true Aligarian."

His contribution to the cause of AMU was outstanding. In 1995 when AMU was in a deep turmoil, he formed the "Save AMU committee" to build public pressure to sort out the crisis.

In July 2013, the then President of India Pranab Mukherjee nominated Wasim Ahmed to the executive council of the Aligarh Muslim University as his nominee in his capacity as the visitor of AMU.

Extending deep sympathies to Wasim Ahmad’s bereaved family, AMU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Tariq Mansoor said, “I pray for your comfort and strength during this tough time. May his soul rest in peace”. The Vice-Chancellor added that Mr. Wasim’s demise is not only a big loss for the AMU fraternity, but it is also a personal loss for him.