Former Union home minister and senior Congress leader Buta Singh died at AIIMS, New Delhi on Saturday.
He was 86.
After he suffered a brain haemorrhage, Singh was in coma since October 2019.
“My father, Buta Singh, passed away today morning. May Waheguru bless his soul,” the former Union minister’s son, Arvinder Singh Lovely Sidhu said on Facebook in Hindi.
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have led the country in expressing condolence at the demise of Singh, who also served as the Governor of Bihar and West Bengal.
President Kovind in his condolence message on the Twitter handle 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.”
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.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 2, 2021
Stating that Singh was an experienced administrator, Prime Minister Modi tweeted: “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.”
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
Union defence minister Rajnath Singh, former minister Buta Singh’s demise has pained him.
“Shri Buta Singh ji dedicated his life serving poor and downtrodden. He served the nation in several capacities. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti,” Rajnath Singh tweeted.
Shri Buta Singh ji dedicated his life serving poor and downtrodden. He served the nation in several capacities. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) January 2, 2021
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has also condoled Singh’s demise.
While condoling the demise of Buta Singh, Rahul Gandhi on his Twitter handle said in Hindi: “At the demise of Sardar Buta Singh, the nation has lost a true public servant and dedicated leader.”
He joined the Congress under Jawaharlal Nehru’s leadership in the 1960s.
Singh was elected to the Parliament for the first time in 1962.
He served as the Union home minister in the Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress government from 1986-1989.
He also served the nation as Union minister for agriculture, railways, commerce and sports.
Singh was also the national president of the Scheduled Caste Commission.