पापा....अब आप इस दुनिया में नहीं हैं लेकिन मुझे पता है आप जहां भी हैं हमेशा मेरे साथ हैं।
— युवा बिहारी चिराग पासवान (@iChiragPaswan) October 8, 2020
Miss you Papa... pic.twitter.com/Qc9wF6Jl6Z
Paswan was active in politics for more than five decades and was one of the country's most noted Dalit leaders. Few days ago, Chirag in an open letter said that he won't be available to the party workers in Bihar because of the illness of his father. Chirag informed that his father is in ICU. Chirag had said that his father had been ignoring his health problems and working continuously to serve the people during the coronavirus crisis.
Paswan was a Rajya Sabha member. He was the Cabinet Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in the Modi government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of Ram Vilas Paswan. "I am saddened beyond words. There is a void in our nation that will perhaps never be filled. Ram Vilas Paswan ji's demise is a personal loss. I have lost a friend, valued colleague and someone who was extremely passionate to ensure every poor person leads a life of dignity," he tweeted.
I am saddened beyond words. There is a void in our nation that will perhaps never be filled. Shri Ram Vilas Paswan Ji's demise is a personal loss. I have lost a friend, valued colleague and someone who was extremely passionate to ensure every poor person leads a life of dignity. pic.twitter.com/2UUuPBjBrj
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 8, 2020
"Working together, shoulder to shoulder with Paswan Ji has been an incredible experience. His interventions during Cabinet Meetings were insightful. From political wisdom, statesmanship to governance issues, he was brilliant. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti," the PM said in another tweet.
"Modi government will be committed to fulfill his dream of the welfare of poor and development of Bihar. My condolences to his family and supporters. I pray for the peace of the departed soul," Amit Shah said.
LJP sources told that Paswan's body will be brought to his Janpath residence in New Delhi on Friday and then flown to the party's office in Patna in afternoon. Cremation will take place in Patna on Saturday.
The eight-time Lok Sabha member started his political career as member of Samyukta Socialist Party. He was elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly in 1969. He then joined Lok Dal. During the mergency, Paswan was put behind the bars. He entered the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1977 as a Janata Party member from Hajipur constituency. He was elected to the Lower House from Hajipur seven times sinc then.
He was a minister in central governments headed by parties of contrasting ideological persuasions, ranging from the Janata Dal to the Congress and the BJP, since 1989.
Whoever might be his ally, he took pride in describing himself as a socialist and secular politician by conviction. He served as a minister in governments headed by V P Singh, H D Deve Gowda, I K Gujaral, Atal Bihar Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh and now Narendra Modi.
Ram Vilas Paswan was born on on July 5, 1946 to a Dalit family in Khagaria district of Bihar. He obtained a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Arts degrees. He was 74.
In 1960s, the LJP founder married Rajkumari Devi. The couple, however, separated in 1981. He has two daughters from first wife. In 1983, Paswan married Reena Sharma. Chirag born out of the second marriage.
