Former Union home minister Buta Singh died at the AIIMS here on Saturday morning. He was 86. The senior Congress leader was in a coma since October last year when he was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after he suffered a brain hemorrhage.
Buta Singh, a prominent Dalit leader, served as the home minister between 1986 and 1989 in the Rajiv Gandhi cabinet. He also served as agriculture minister from 1984 to 1986. Between 2004 and 2006, he served as Bihar governor.
Paying homage, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the nation has lost a true public crusader and dedicated leader.
सरदार बूटा सिंह जी के देहांत से देश ने एक सच्चा जनसेवक और निष्ठावान नेता खो दिया है।उन्होंने अपना पूरा जीवन देश की सेवा और जनता की भलाई के लिए समर्पित कर दिया, जिसके लिए उन्हें सदैव याद रखा जाएगा। इस मुश्किल समय में उनके परिवारजनों को मेरी संवेदनाएँ।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 2, 2021
Condoling the leader’s demise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Singh was an “effective voice for the welfare of the poor as well as downtrodden”.
Shri Buta Singh Ji was an experienced administrator and effective voice for the welfare of the poor as well as downtrodden. Saddened by his passing away. My condolences to his family and supporters.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 2, 2021
Buta Singh had rejoined the Congress in October 2015. He had contested the 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent candidate from Jalore in Rajasthan, a constituency he had represented earlier in Parliament. He also headed the Safai Mazdoor Congress, a major organization working for the welfare of sanitation workers.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed her condolences on Twitter. "Saddened at the passing away of Buta Singh ji, eight-time Lok Sabha MP and former Union Cabinet Minister. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and supporters," she said in a tweet.