Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan, one of the most prominent Dalit leaders of the country whoserved under six Prime Ministers, died on Thursday at the age of 74.
The Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution was admitted to a private hospital for several weeks and had recently undergone a heart operation.
The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) founder’s condition deteriorated over the past 24 hours and he breathed his last at 6.05 pm, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute said in a statement on Thursday night.
Paswan had long suffered from a heart condition.
Fortis Escorts Heart Institute said Paswan was admitted with heart failure and kidney shut down and managed on medication and subsequently by dialysis. He was later put on ventilator and ECMO support for failing heart and lungs and also underwent surgery.
Condoling his demise, President Ram Nath Kovind said, “In the demise of Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, the nation has lost a visionary leader. He was among the most active and longest-serving members of parliament. He was the voice of the oppressed, and championed the cause of the marginalized.”
“A firebrand socialist in youth, mentored by the likes of Jayaprakash Narayan during anti-Emergency movement, Paswan ji had enviable rapport with masses and he ardently strove for their welfare. Condolences to his family and supporters,” Kovind said in another tweet.
Expressing grief at Paswan’s demise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened beyond words as his death has left a void in the 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,” Modi said in his condolence message.
The prime minister also said Paswan “rose in politics through hardwork and determination. As a young leader, he resisted tyranny and the assault on our democracy during the Emergency. He was an outstanding Parliamentarian and Minister, making lasting contributions in several policy areas.”
“Working together, shoulder to shoulder with Paswan Ji has been an incredible experience. His interventions during Cabinet Meetings were insightful. From political wisdom, statesmanship to governance issues, he was brilliant. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti,” Modi said in another tweet.
Several leaders, including his cabinet colleagues, chief ministers and governors, also expressed their condolences over Paswan’s demise.
Born in Khagaria in 1946, Paswan was selected as a police official but chose the calling of politics and became an MLA for the first time in 1969 on a Samyukta Socialist Party ticket.
He was elected to Lok Sabha eight times and also held the record of winning his constituency, Hajipur, with the highest margin for several years.
He was a minister in central governments headed by parties of contrasting ideological persuasions, ranging from the Janata Dal to the Congress and the BJP, since 1989.
Whoever might be his ally, he took pride in describing himself as a socialist and secular politician by conviction.
He served as a minister in governments headed by V P Singh, H D Deve Gowda, I K Gujaral, Atal Bihar Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh and now Narendra Modi.
A meeting of the Union Cabinet has been convened on Friday to express condolences over the minister’s demise, officials said.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced the national flag will fly at half mast in Delhi and capitals of all states and union territories on Friday as a mark of respect to Paswan. A state funeral will also be accorded to the Union minister.
Paswan’s body will be brought to his Janpath residence in the capital on Friday and then flown to the party’s office in Patna in afternoon. Cremation will take place in Patna on Saturday.
କେନ୍ଦ୍ରମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ରାମବିଳାସ ପାଶ୍ୱାନଙ୍କ ପରଲୋକ
ନୂଆଦିଲ୍ଲୀ: କେନ୍ଦ୍ରମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ରାମବିଳାସ ପାଶ୍ୱାନଙ୍କ ପରଲୋକ। ଚିକିତ୍ସାଧୀନ ଅବସ୍ଥାରେ ତାଙ୍କର ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ହୋଇଛି। ୭୪ ବର୍ଷ ବୟସରେ ସେ ନିଶ୍ବାସ ତ୍ୟାଗ କରିଛନ୍ତି। ଏ ସଂପର୍କରେ ତାଙ୍କ ପୁଅ ଚିରାଗ ପାଶ୍ୱାନ ଟ୍ବିଟ୍ କରି ସୂଚନା ଦେଇଛନ୍ତି। ଦୀର୍ଘ ଦିନ ହେଲାଣି ସେ ଅସୁସ୍ଥ ହୋଇ ହସ୍ପିଟାଲରେ ଚିକିତ୍ସିତ ହେଉଥିଲେ। ଏପରି କି ତାଙ୍କୁ ଭେଣ୍ଟିଲେଟରରେ ରଖାଯାଇଥିଲା। ହେଲେ ଆଜି ସନ୍ଧ୍ୟାରେ ତାଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ହୋଇଛି।
ଶନିବାର ତାଙ୍କ ହାର୍ଟ ସର୍ଜରୀ କରାଯାଇଥିଲା। ରାମ ବିଲାଶ ପାଶ୍ୱାନ ଦୀର୍ଘ ୫ ଦଶନ୍ଧି ଧରି ଭାରତୀୟ ରାଜନୀତିରେ ସକ୍ରିୟ ରହିଥିଲେ। କିଛି ସପ୍ତାହ ହେଲାଣି ସେ ନିୟମିତ ଦିଲ୍ଲୀର ଗୋଟିଏ ଘରୋଇ ହସ୍ପିଟାଲରେ ଚିକିତ୍ସିତ ହେଉଥିଲେ। ସେ ଜୁଲାଇ ୧୨ ତାରିଖରେ ହଠାତ ଅସୁସ୍ଥ ଅନୁଭବ କରିବାରୁ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଆର୍ଏମ୍ଏଲ୍ ହସ୍ପିଟାଲ୍ର ଆଇସିୟୁରେ ରଖାଯାଇଥିଲା। ଆଜି ହୃଦ୍ଘାତରେ ତାଙ୍କର ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ହୋଇଥିବା ଜଣାପଡ଼ିଛି।
