New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and former Home Minister, Buta Singh, died at AIIMS, Delhi, early on 2nd January, 2021. He was 86 and had been in coma since October last year, after he suffered a brain haemorrhage. He is survived by a daughter and two sons.

Shri Buta Singh started out as a Communist before switching to the Shiromani Akali Dal for a short stint and then joined the Congress in the early 1960s.

A prominent Dalit leader in the Congress, he was convenor of the All India Congress Committee’s (AICC’s) Harijan cell in 1973-74, after which he became the AICC General Secretary in 1978.

An eight-time Lok Sabha MP, he entered Parliament in 1962 from the Moga Lok Sabha constituency in Punjab. In 1974, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi elevated him to the post of Deputy Minister for Railways. He was considered her close confidante and was involved in Operation Blue Star. Later, as a Union Minister, he was also involved in reconstruction of the Golden Temple.

But his real career high came during his working with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. In 1981, he was made the Chairperson of the Organising Committee for Asian Games, the first major international games to come to India. Under Rajiv Gandhi, Shri Buta Singh became the country’s Home Minister leaving a legacy of imposing President’s Rule on many State governments. In February 2005, as the Governor of Bihar, Shri Singh had recommended dissolution of Bihar Assembly, hoping to stall a JD(U)-BJP government in the State.

Under Prime Minister Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao, Shri Buta Singh held the portfolio of Union Minister of Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution from 1995 to 1996.He was appointed the Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in 2007. He held that post till 2010.

His demise was announced by his son Arvinder Singh Lovely Sidhu on Facebook. “My father, Buta Singh, passed away today morning. May Waheguru bless his soul”.

Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi expressed her grief on demise of Veteran Congress leader Buta Singh, and spoke to his son over phone.

In a condolence message by Former Prime Minster Dr. Manmohan Singh to Buta Ji’s son, Dr. Singh said “He was a leader of high esteem who was respected by everybody irrespective of party lines. He had been elected eight times as member of the Lok Sabha. He has served as General Secretary of the AICC, Home Minister of India, Governor of Bihar and many other positions. He was a great Parliamentarian and a distinguished administrator who devoted his whole life to the service of the poor and other backward communities”.

Former Congress President Shri Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet: “The country has lost a true public servant and a loyal leader with the death of Sardar Buta Singh Ji. He devoted his entire life to service to the country and people’s well-being. For this, he will always be remembered. My condolences to his family members during this difficult time”.

In another tweet by General Secretary Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, she said, “We are deeply saddened by the departure of Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister, Sardar Buta Singh. He worked for the advancement of every section of the society. My condolences to his family in this hour of grief.”