74-year-old Ram Vilas Paswan was the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet and founder of the Lok Janshakti Party. The 74-year-old was undergoing heart surgery at the hospital. He was in the hospital for more than a month. His son Chirag Paswan announced on Twitter yesterday 8th October, that his father had passed away. Home ministry officials said a state funeral will be accorded to Ram Vilas Paswan and the national flag will fly at half-mast in Delhi and state capitals on Friday 9th October as a mark of respect. The cremation will take place in Patna on Saturday 10th October.

Twitter was flooded with condolences and RIP messages for Paswan. PM Modi Tweeted: "I am saddened beyond words. The death of Shri Ram Vilas Paswan Ji' is a very big loss for India. We have lost a strong leader. I have lost a friend and valued colleague. Paswan was a very good politician and he worked hard to make sure people in India led a happy and dignified life.” 

Ram Vilas Paswan has been a minister in almost all Central governments formed since 1989 and he has worked with six Prime ministers. Paswan was a powerful Dalit leader from Bihar. In the 1970s, he along with the young leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar fought against the corrupt Bihar government. He was jailed during the 1975 Emergency and then won a seat in the Lok Sabha in 1977. Since then he has been a strong political leader in India. 

Tags

• Ram
• Vilas
• Paswan
• Dead
• Politician

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