Ram Vilas Paswan New Delhi/IBNS: Union Minister and Lok Jansakti Party founder Ram Vilas Paswan died in a hospital in New Delhi on Thursday, his son Chirag Paswan said in a tweet. He was 74.
पापा....अब आप इस दुनिया में नहीं हैं लेकिन मुझे पता है आप जहां भी हैं हमेशा मेरे साथ हैं।
— युवा बिहारी चिराग पासवान (@iChiragPaswan) October 8, 2020
Miss you Papa... pic.twitter.com/Qc9wF6Jl6Z
The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, who was born in a Dalit family on 5 July 1946 in Shaharbanni, in Khagaria district of Bihar, was a prominent Dalit leader from the eastern state.
He died in Delhi's Fortis hospital. He had a heart surgery recently.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a condolence tweet said he was saddened beyond words at the demise of Paswan.
I am saddened beyond words. There is a void in our nation that will perhaps never be filled. Shri Ram Vilas Paswan Ji’s demise is a personal loss. I have lost a friend, valued colleague and someone who was extremely passionate to ensure every poor person leads a life of dignity. pic.twitter.com/2UUuPBjBrj
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 8, 2020
His political career had spanned over five decades. He first became an MLA in 1969. He was a union minister under different prime ministers of India for several times.
रामविलास पासवान जी के असमय निधन का समाचार दुखद है। ग़रीब-दलित वर्ग ने आज अपनी एक बुलंद राजनैतिक आवाज़ खो दी।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 8, 2020
उनके परिवारजनों को मेरी संवेदनाएँ।
He was a member of the Lok Dal when it was formed in 1974, and went on to become its general secretary. He also spent time in jail during the Indian Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi in 1975.
He first became a Lok Sabha member in 1977, as a Janata Party member from Hajipur constituency. He won from there again in 1980, 1989, 1996 and 1998, 1999, 2004, and 2014.
In 2000, Paswan formed the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and in 2004, he joined the ruling United Progressive Alliance government led by Congress and remained a Union Minister in Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Ministry of Steel.
After a defeat in polls, he was again elected to the 16th Lok Sabha from Hajipur constituency in 2014.
In the successive Modi governments since 2014, he became the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
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