Singh, who was a long time associate of former CM Lalu Prasad Yadav, rattled Yadav and RJD after he produced a handwritten resignation on Friday.
A politician of nearly four decades, regarded as an expert in the rural and agricultural landscape of the country and is credited with the conceptualisation and implementation of the NREGA (National Rural Guarantee Employment) Act, Raghuvansh Singh was one of the stalwarts of Bihar Politics. Singh passed away Sunday morning at AIIMS in Delhi. He was 74 years old. Singh had left Lalu Yadav’s RJD a few days back.
In June, Singh had tested positive for the coronavirus, after which he was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Patna. In AIIMS Delhi, he was readmitted for the treatment over post-Covid complications.
He was placed on a ventilator since his health deteriorated in the last two days. According to PTI, he died at around 11 AM after complaining of breathlessness.
Speaking at the launch of petroleum projects in Bihar this morning, PM Modi began his speech by paying tribute to Mr Singh. “Raghuvansh Prasad Singh is no more among us. His demise has left a void in the political sphere of Bihar as well as the country,” PM Modi said.
Singh, who was a long time associate of former CM Lalu Prasad Yadav, rattled Yadav and RJD after he produced a handwritten resignation on Friday.
“After (former Chief Minister and socialist icon) Karpuri Thakur’s death, I stood by you for 32 years, but no more,” Singh wrote in his letter, adding that he had received love and support from the party.
Sending a handwritten letter of his own, Lalu Prasad Yadav made it clear he was not giving up on his old friend so easily and wrote: “…I cannot believe it… First you get better, then we will talk. You are not going anywhere. Know it.”
This morning, pained by Singh’s passing, Lalu tweeted: “Dear Raghuvansh Babu! What did you do? I told you the day before yesterday, you are not going anywhere. But you went so far. I am speechless. I am sad. Will miss you very much.”
Union Minister from Bihar and LJP chief Ramvilas Paswan also expressed his sorrow on Singh’s demise. Paswan wrote, “The death of Raghuvansh Prasad Singhji, a senior leader of RJD, is a big blow to the politics of Bihar. Raghuvansh babu always did politics based on issues and throughout his life, he fought for social justice and the rights of the exploited, deprived, and backward. May his soul rest in peace.”
Representing the Vaishali constituency of Bihar, Singh was the Union Minister for Rural Development in the Congress-led UPA-I government.
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