Hyderabad: Satyapal Malik, former governor of four Indian states and one of the most outspoken voices to have held constitutional office in recent years, died in Delhi at the age of 79.
Malik passed away at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital reportedly due to complications from kidney-related ailments. His death was confirmed on Monday via a post from his official X account, shared by close associates.
Across a political career that spanned decades and multiple parties, Malik served as governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Goa, and Meghalaya. His tenure in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly around the time of the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, placed him at the centre of national controversy.
In April 2023, Malik gave a televised interview to journalist Karan Thapar on The Wire, where he alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to stay silent about security failures tied to the Pulwama attack, which killed 40 CRPF personnel.
Malik remained an unfiltered critic of the Modi government in his final years, often voicing dissent on issues of governance and national security despite occupying high office.
Tributes from political leaders and official statements are expected to follow.
