Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan passes away

Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan , who was ailing for quite some time, has passed away at a hospital in New Delhi Thursday evening,  tweeted his son Chirag paswan. He was 74. Ram Vilas Paswan, the patron of Lok Janshakti Party, had undergone a heart surgery on Saturday. Paswan had been in active politics for more than five decades and was regarded as one of India's noted Dalit leaders.

Ram Vilas Paswan had been part of the Narendra Modi government since 2014 and was currently holding the portfolio of Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. Chirag Paswan, the Lok Janshakti Party chief tweeted in Hindi about the Consumer Affairs Minister's death, saying: Papa, you are not in this world today but no matter where you are you will always be with me. Miss you Papa."

President Ram Nath Kovind extended condolences to the family and supporters of the deceased Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan. He said, Paswan was the voice of the oppressed, and championed the cause of the marginalized. Kovind said, Paswan was a firebrand socialist in youth who was mentored by the likes of Jayaprakash Narayan during anti-Emergency movement. He said, the leader had enviable rapport with the masses and ardently strove for their welfare.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the demise of Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan. Terming it as a personal loss, Modi said the void caused due to the death of the leader will perhaps never be filled. He said, he has not only lost a friend and a valued colleague but also someone who was extremely passionate to ensure that every poor person leads a life of dignity.