Syed Abdullah Bukhari, former Imam of Jama Masjid in New Delhi, passed away on Wednesday following prolonged illness.
Bukhari breathed his last at around 0900 hours at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in the capital.
In a statement, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat President Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan said, 'Imam Bukhari, who was the imam of the country's most important mosque for over three decades, played a leading role in the life of the Muslims of India during the fourth quarter of the twentieth century and boldly helped mould Muslim policies and air Muslim grievances during that period.
'He will always be remembered as a great son of the Indian Muslim community, the second largest Muslim concentration in the world. Imam Bukhari, with his brave and candid stands became the spokesman of the Muslim community during a crucial time when the community faced communal onslaught and numerous challenges. He was respected both at home and abroad for his outspoken views.'
