George Fernandes, a former Defence Minister of India, has died at 88. He had been unwell and bedridden over the past few years.

George Fernandes served as Defence Minister between 1998 and 2004, reports NDTV.

One of the most prominent leaders of the socialist movement in the 1970s, George Fernandes was a senior Janata Dal leader before he founded the Samata Party.

Apart from the defence ministry during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government, Mr Fernandes held several ministerial portfolios including communications, industry and railways, NDTV reported.