Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan 74, who was sick for quite some time, passed away, Thursday evening. His son Chirag Paswan took to Twitter to share the news.
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
An icon of the socialist movement who later emerged as Bihar’s foremost Dalit leader with a massive following right across the country, Ram Vilas Paswan was instrumental in the implementation of the Mandal Commission report in the 1990s.
Paswan is the second union minister to die within a span of two months - Suresh Angadi died of coronavirus in September.
In November after leading the Lok Janshakti Party for 19 years, Paswan stepped down from his post to make way for the appointment of his son and MP Chirag Paswan as the new party president.
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.
केंद्रीय मंत्री रामविलास पासवान के निधन से देश ने एक दूरदर्शी नेता खो दिया है। उनकी गणना सर्वाधिक सक्रिय तथा सबसे लंबे समय तक जनसेवा करने वाले सांसदों में की जाती है। वे वंचित वर्गों की आवाज़ मुखर करने वाले तथा हाशिए के लोगों के लिए सतत संघर्षरत रहने वाले जनसेवक थे।
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 8, 2020
Shri Ram Vilas Paswan Ji 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. pic.twitter.com/naqx27xBoj
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 8, 2020
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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 8, 2020
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the “poor-downtrodden lost a strong political voice today”, while Priyanka Gandhi reminisced the family association and how he was a neighbour of her mother Sonia Gandhi for years.
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।
रामविलास पासवान जी वर्षों से मेरी माँ के पड़ोसी रहे और उनके परिवार के साथ हमारा एक निजी रिश्ता था। उनके निधन की सूचना से बेहद दुःख हुआ है।
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) October 8, 2020
चिराग जी और परिवार के समस्त सदस्यों को मेरी गहरी संवेदना। इस दुखद घड़ी में हम आपके साथ हैं।
Photo courtesy of Facebook.