New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death senior Congress leader Buta Singh who passed away at AIIMS here on Saturday morning.
Mr Buta Singh, a veteran Congress leader who worked as Minister holding different portfolios under former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao, passed away at AIIMS on Saturday morning. He was in coma since October after he suffered brain haemorrhage.
He was 86.
He was is the father of Delhi politician Arvinder Singh Lovely.
In his message the President said the country had lost one of the longest serving parliamentarians with rich administrative experience.
In the passing away of Shri Buta Singh, the country has lost one of the longest serving politicians with rich administrative experience. He championed the cause of the oppressed and marginalised. Condolences to his family and supporters,” the President said.
The Prime Minister while expressing condolences, said he was ”saddened” by his passing away.
The Prime Minister described Mr Buta Singh as an ”experienced administrator, and effective voice
for welfare of poor and downtrodden”
”Shri Buta Singh Ji was an experienced administrator and effective voice for the welfare of poor as
well as downtrodden. Saddened by his passing away. My condolences to his family and supporters,” the Prime Minister said.
He was Union Home Minister from 1986-1989 and later Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development from 1984-1986, both in the Rajiv Gandhi government. He was Governor of Bihar from 2004-2006, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Sports (1982-1984), Minister of Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (1995-1996) and Chairman National Commission for Schedule Castes (2007–2010).
He was born on March 21, 1934, at Mustafapur in Jalandhar district of Punjab (under British rule).
He worked as a journalist before joining politics and fought his first elections as an Akali Dal member and later joined the Congress in late 1960s.
He was closely involved in Operation Bluestar and as Minister oversaw reconstruction of the Golden Temple after that operation.