President Ram Nath Kovind joined other leaders on Sunday to express grief at the death of former Union Minister Jaipal Reddy. Reddy, 77, a senior Congress leader, died at a hospital in Hyderabad in the early hours of Sunday.
Reddy was recently diagnosed with pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital, where he died at 1.28 am, a Congress leader said.
Reddy has been a parliamentarian for several decades and held key portfolios in various Governments. Reddy, a parliamentarian since the 1980s, served in the Lok Sabha for five terms and in the Rajya Sabha twice.
Reddy was the Information & Broadcasting Minister in the IK Gujral Government. During UPA-I Government he held portfolios like Urban Development and Culture. In UPA-II, he was again assigned the Urban Development Ministry. Later, he became the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas but was shifted to the Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Ministries, creating political storm.
The last rites of Reddy will take place on Monday, Congress Lok Sabha member Komatireddy Venkat Reddy said.
The Congress, in a tweet, said it was saddened to hear the passing of Jaipal Reddy. “We hope his family and friends find strength in their time of grief.” “Deeply saddened and pained by the sudden demise of Jaipal Raddy,” Congress’ Telangana unit chief Uttam Kumar Reddy said, describing the party veteran as an outstanding orator, great human being and intellectual giant.
“Sorry to hear of the passing of Shri S Jaipal Reddy, former Union Minister. He was a thinking person’s politician and an outstanding parliamentarian. My condolences to his family and many associates,” the Rashtrapati Bhavan quoted the President as saying in a statement.
The Prime Minister’s office also tweeted: “Shri Jaipal Reddy had years of experience in public life. He was respected as an articulate speaker and effective administrator. Saddened by his demise. My thoughts are with his family and well-wishers in this hour of grief”. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, in a series of tweets, praised Mr Reddy for his “razor sharp intellect”.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi also tweeted his condolences, praising Jaipal Reddy for his dedication towards public service. He called Reddy “an outstanding parliamentarian, great son of Telangana” who “dedicated his entire life towards public service.”
“I’m sorry to hear about the sad demise of former Union Minister & veteran Congress leader Shri Jaipal Reddy Garu. My deepest condolences to his family & friends,” Rahul tweeted. Soon after reports of Reddy’s death, condolences poured in.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy offered condolences over the senior Congress leader’s death. “Known for his oratory skills Jaipal Reddy carved a niche for himself in Parliament and State assembly alike. The chief minister conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family members,” he said in a statement. TRS working president KT Rama Rao, son of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, also condoled the death. “My condolences to the family and friends of senior leader and former union minister Shri Jaipal Reddy Garu who passed away earlier today. RIP Sir (sic),” he tweeted.