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PM Modi pays last Respect To Ram Vilas Paswan In Delhi

New Delhi
October 9, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ram Vilas Paswan residence in New Delhi to pay his last respects to the Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) leader who died yesterday. PM Modi was accompanied by senior BJP leaders including party president JP Nadda at Mr. Paswan's residence where the body of the Bihar politician is kept.

Mr. Paswan, who was a minister in PM Modi's cabinet, died at a Delhi hospital on Thursday where he was recuperating from heart surgery. He was 74.

PM Modi, in his condolence message yesterday had remembered the Dalit icon was a friend and valued colleague whose interventions during Cabinet meetings were insightful. His body was brought from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) early this morning.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad and Giriraj Singh also paid their respects to the leader.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in a condolence letter to Mr. Paswan's son, Chirag, remembered the LJP leader for giving voice to the most marginalized sections of the society. "As a member of Parliament and Union Minister, he voiced their interests and concerns wth passion. His unwavering commitment to social justice and equality is particularly relevant in these times," Mr. Gandhi wrote.

Flags at Rashtrapati Bhavan and Parliament are flying at half mast to condole the death of the Union Minister.

Ram Vilas Paswan has been a minister in almost all Central Governments formed since 1989 and served six Prime ministers, starting with the cabinet of VP Singh. In PM Modi's cabinet, he was in charge of the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution portfolios.