Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Buta Singh died at Delhi’s AIIMS early on Saturday morning. He was 86 years old. He was in coma since October last year after he suffered a brain haemorrhage.
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the country in offering condolences to Singh, who was a member of the Shiromani Akali Dal before joining the Congress in the 1960s.
His demise was announced by his son Arvinder Singh Lovely Sidhu on Facebook. “My father, Buta Singh, passed away today morning. May Waheguru bless his soul,” read the post in Hindi.
Kovind said: “In the passing of Shri Buta Singh, the country has lost one of the longest serving parliamentarians with rich administrative experience. He championed the cause of the oppressed and marginalized. Condolences to his family and supporters.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as an “experienced administrator”, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he was a loyal leader who devoted himself for the service of the country.
“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,” PM Modi tweeted.
Tributes also poured in from Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Chief Ministers Ashok Gehlot and Amarinder Singh besides many others including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
“The country has lost a true public servant and a loyal leader with the death of Sardar Buta Singh Ji. He devoted his entire life to service of the country and people’s well-being. For this, he will always be remembered. My condolences to his family members during this difficult time,” Rahul tweeted.
Born in 1934 in Punjab’s Jalandhar, Buta Singh joined the Congress under Jawaharlal Nehru’s leadership and was close to Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, both.
Singh was first elected to the Parliament in 1962. Over the years, he served as the Home Minister in the Rajiv Gandhi government from 1986 to 1989, National President of Scheduled Caste Commission, governor for West Bengal and Bihar, and Union minister for Agriculture, Railways, Commerce and Sports, among other departments.
Singh’s last political assignment was a two-year term as the Governor of Bihar in 2004, after which he only held organisational posts within the Congress.
Sad to learn about the demise of former Union minister, senior Congress leader and former MP from Rajasthan, Shri Buta Singh ji. My heartfelt condolences to his family members in this difficult time, may God give them strength to bear this loss. May his soul rest in peace,” Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot wrote about the former four-time MP from State’s Jalore.