New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and founding-father of Congress in the State, Mir Qasim, died in New Delhi today (Dec 12, 2004) after a brief illness.

Qasim, 83, breathed his last at the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital where he was admitted last night after he complained of chest pain.

A member of the Constituent Assembly, Qasim served in various capacities as Minister till he became the Chief Minister in 1972 after the death of G M Sadiq.

Known as the founding-father of Congress in Jammu and Kashmir, Qasim had to leave the Chief Ministership in 1975 after the Indira-Sheikh accord to became the Union Civil Supplies Minister in the Indira Gandhi Government.

Qasim, who had authored the book "My Life, My Time", was also a member of the Congress Parliamentary Board.

He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, former CM Farooq Abdullah and National Conference president Omar Abdullah expressed grief over Qasim's demise.

Sayeed, who is in New Delhi, visited the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital soon after hearing the news.