New Delhi: Union Minister and Lok Jana Shakti Party Leader Ram Vilas Paswan (74), died on Thursday and his body was taken to his residence in Delhi from AIIMS. His son, Chirag Paswan, and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan were among those present at the AIIMS hospital early hours this morning.

 

Ram Vilas Paswan is a founder of Jana Shakti Party and is a minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi cabinet, died at Delhi hospital, where he was recuperating from heart surgery. He was undergoing treatment at the hospital, and had to undergo surgery last Saturday.

Home ministry officials said state funeral will be accorded to Ram Vilas Paswan and the national flag will fly at half-mast in Delhi and state capitals as mark of respect. Cremation will take place in Patna on Saturday. 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.