Current affairs

Former Union Minister Ajit Singh dies of COVID-19 at 82...Condolences pour in!

By alagu, 06 May, 2021
Ajit Singh, Uttar Pradesh, COVID-19

Even as India suffers from the adverse effect of the horrendous second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country has also been anguishing the demise of notable people and icons who succumb to the viral infection. The passing away of Ajit Singh is one such demise that the country has now witnessed amid the Center's warning that the nation has to be prepared for the third wave of novel coronavirus.

Ajit Singh was the former Union Minister and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RJD) leader and he had passed away at a hospital in Gurgaon on Thursday morning at the age of 82 due to the COVID-19 viral infection. According to reports, Ajit Singh was the son of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh and Ajit Singh's family has said that he was diagnosed with Covid positive on 20th April and breathed his last today morning, the 6th May 2021.

His son Jayant Chowdhury tweeted, "Throughout his life journey, Chaudhary Sahib was loved and respected by many. He, in turn, cherished this bond with all of you and gave his best consideration and efforts for your welfare." Jayant stated, "As our nation confronts the horrific pandemic, it is our humble request to all those who wish to pay their respects, to please stay at home as far as possible."

"We must observe all safety protocols to keep ourselves and everyone around us healthy and safe. This would be the best way to honour Chaudhary Sahib as well as all those COVID warriors who are working night and day to protect us," Jayant added. The reports say that Ajit Singh was an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago. 

Ajit Singh was a computer scientist by profession and he was one of the first Indians to work with IBM in the 1960s. He was first elected to Rajya Sabha in 1986 and he had the honour of serving under four Prime Ministers. Ajit Singh was serving as the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry between 1989 to 1990 under the then Prime Minister VP Singh. He then served in PV Narasimha Rao's cabinet as the Minister for Food Processing Industries from February 1995 to May 1996.

Ajit Singh had then served as the Union Minister for Agriculture in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government from July 2001 to May 2003.  After his party joined the then-ruling United Progressive Alliance headed by the Congress party in 2011, Ajit Singh had served as the Union Minister for Civil Aviation in then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's cabinet from December 2011 to May 2014. He had also served in the lower house of the Parliament, Lok Sabha, from 1999 to 2014. 

Born on 12th February 1939, Ajit Singh was one of the notable political figures in independent India and observed close ties with the national leaders regardless of the party. His party RLD is recognized in the western part of Uttar Pradesh and Ajit Singh was married to Radhika Singh and has one son and two daughters. His son Jayant Chowdhury was a member of the 15th Lok Sabha from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. 

Ajit Singh had breathed his last on Thursday due to COVID-19 and ever since the news of his demise broke out, several national leaders have been paying tribute to the deceased leader. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Hindi saying, "The news of the untimely demise of Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh Ji is sad. My condolences to his family and loved ones." 

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy took to Twitter and wrote, "I am truly sad that my good friend for over 35 years, Ajit Singh son of Charan Singh died today due to Coronavirus. He was simple and straightforward with me all his life. In the late 1980s and thereafter he held many Ministerial posts." Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had paid tribute to the deceased leader and expressed their condolences to his family. 
 

 

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