Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, who was ill for quite some time, passed away, tweeting to his son Chirag Paswan on Thursday night. The Minister of Consumer Affairs was 74 years old.
“Dad … Now you are not in this world, but I know that you are always with me wherever you are. I miss you dad… ”Chirag Paswan tweeted, with a photo of his father hugging a younger boy.
Ram Vilas Paswan, who had been in politics for more than five decades and is one of the most recognized Dalit leaders in the country, had been hospitalized for the past few weeks in Delhi.
Paswan is the second union minister to die in the space of two months: Suresh Angadi died of coronavirus in September.
Last November, after leading the Lok Janshakti Party for 19 years, Paswan left office to make way for the appointment of his son and MP Chirag Paswan as the new party chairman.
As news of the leader’s death leaked, tributes were pouring in.
“With the demise of Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, the nation has lost a visionary leader. He was one of the longest-serving and most active members of parliament. He was the voice of the oppressed and championed the cause of the marginalized, ”President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted.
“A passionate socialist in youth, led by the likes of Jayaprakash Narayan during the anti-Emergency movement, Paswan ji had an enviable relationship with the masses and fought ardently for their well-being. Condolences to his family and supporters, ”read the president’s second tweet.
In a series of tweets, Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted how ‘insightful’ Paswan’s interventions used to be during cabinet meetings. The prime minister called it a “personal loss” and praised Paswan as a “prominent parliamentarian.”
“Working together shoulder to shoulder with Paswan Ji has been an incredible experience. His interventions during the cabinet meetings were revealing. From political wisdom, political savvy to governance issues, he was brilliant. Condolences to his family and followers. Om Shanti, ”Prime Minister Modi said in one of the three tweets.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that “the oppressed poor lost a strong political voice today,” while Priyanka Gandhi recalled the family association and how she was a neighbor of her mother Sonia Gandhi for years.
“Ram Vilas Paswan ji has been my mother’s neighbor for years and we had a personal relationship with her family. The news of his passing is deeply saddened. My condolences to Chirag ji and all members of the family. We are with you in this sad hour, ”Priyanka Gandhi tweeted.
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