Former Home Minister Buta Singh passes away
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Former Union Home Minister Buta Singh, 86, who remained in public service for a long time and served under four Prime Ministers, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences on Saturday. The senior Congress leader was in a coma since October 2020 when he was admitted to AIIMS after he suffered a brain hemorrhage. His family said Singh died around 7:10 am.
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Prominent leaders of the country condoled his demise
President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condoled his demise. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Singh devoted all his life in the service of the country. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Rajasthan counterpart Ashok Gehlot and Punjab counterpart Amarinder Singh also condoled Singh's demise.
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'He championed the cause of the oppressed and marginalized'
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
Background
Singh was born in Jalandhar in 1934
Born in Punjab's Jalandhar district on March 21, 1934, Singh was an eight-time former Lok Sabha MP and also served as the Governor of Bihar. He represented the Jalore constituency in Rajasthan and was first elected to the Lower House of Parliament in 1962. Singh was initially associated with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) but later joined the Congress in the early 1960s.
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He was also a prominent Dalit leader
A prominent Dalit leader of Congress, he was the convener of the All India Congress Committee's Harijan cell (1973-74), after which he became AICC's General Secretary in 1978. He was appointed the Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes by Manmohan Singh (2007-2010). Singh was also the Chairperson of the Asian Games organizing committee when the competition was held in India in 1982.
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He held office under various Prime Ministers
Singh became the Union Deputy Minister twice between 1974-1976 and became the Union Minister of State, Shipping, and Transport (1980). Under Indira Gandhi, he was the Cabinet Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Sports and Works, and Housing. He was the Union Home Minister in Rajiv Gandhi's Cabinet. Under PV Narasimha Rao, he was the Union Minister of Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (1995-1996).
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Singh's close association with the Congress
Singh was imperative in choosing the "hand" as Congress's poll symbol in 1978. He was closely associated with Indira Gandhi during Operation Blue Star and oversaw the reconstruction of the Golden Temple in Amritsar following the Army operation. He also helped to build and re-build many gurudwaras in the country and abroad and helped to reconstruct gurudwaras after the anti-Sikh riots in November 1984.
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He courted many controversies too
In 1998, as the Communications Minister, he was indicted in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha bribery case and had to resign. As Bihar's Governor in 2005, his decision to recommend the dissolution of the State Assembly was criticized by the Supreme Court and he later resigned. Survived by a daughter and two sons, Singh will be cremated at the Lodhi Road crematorium in Delhi.