Raghuvansh Prasad Singh dies during treatment for post-COVID complications
What's the story
Former Union Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh passed away at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, on Sunday morning. Singh was being treated at the facility for health complications after recovering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). He was 74 years old. The development comes the day when Union Home Minister Amit Shah was re-admitted at AIIMS, Delhi, due to post-COVID complications.
Details
Singh died at 11 am due to breathlessness, other complications
According to PTI, Singh died at 11 am due to breathlessness and other complications, a close aide said. Reportedly, his health had deteriorated rapidly on Friday and had been placed on a ventilator in the ICU at AIIMS. He had tested positive for COVID-19 in June and was admitted at AIIMS in Patna. He was re-admitted to AIIMS in Delhi due to post-COVID complications.
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Singh's body to be sent back to Patna
Singh is now survived by two sons and a daughter, he said. His wife had also died earlier. The former Union Minister's body will be brought back to Patna for the last rites, Kedar Yadav, Singh's close aide, told PTI.
Recent developments
On Friday, Singh had resigned from Rashtriya Janata Dal
Singh is a former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and had tendered his resignation on Friday. Singh had submitted a handwritten resignation letter saying, "After (former Chief Minister and socialist icon) Karpuri Thakur's death, I stood by you for 32 years, but no more." He had also sought forgiveness from RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in the letter.
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RJD chief had rejected Singh's resignation
However, Yadav had refused the resignation, sending back a handwritten letter of his own. In his letter, Yadav had written, "...I cannot believe it... First, you get better, then we will talk. You are not going anywhere. Know it."
Reactions
'I am speechless. I am sad,' says Lalu Prasad Yadav
Reacting to Singh's demise, Yadav tweeted, "I told you the day before yesterday, you are not going anywhere. But you went so far. I am speechless. I am sad. Will miss you very much." Speaking at the launch of petroleum projects in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "His demise has left a void in Bihar's political sphere as well as the country."
Twitter Post
You can view Yadav's tweet here
प्रिय रघुवंश बाबू! ये आपने क्या किया?
— Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) September 13, 2020
मैनें परसों ही आपसे कहा था आप कहीं नहीं जा रहे है। लेकिन आप इतनी दूर चले गए।
नि:शब्द हूँ। दुःखी हूँ। बहुत याद आएँगे।
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Singh's death is tragic, tweets President Kovind
President Ram Nath Kovind also tweeted, "The passing away of Raghuvansh Prasad Singh is tragic. An outstanding leader rooted to the ground, Raghuvansh Babu was a true stalwart with a phenomenal understanding of rural India. With his spartan and sagely lifestyle, he enriched public life."
Twitter Post
You can view the President's tweet here
The passing away of Raghuvansh Prasad Singh is tragic. An outstanding leader rooted to ground, Raghuvansh Babu was a true stalwart with phenomenal understanding of rural India. With his spartan and sagely lifestyle, he enriched public life. Condolences to his family followers.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 13, 2020