Former Union minister Jaswant Singh, 82, who held crucial portfolios in external affairs, defence and finance ministries in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government passed away after a prolonged illness on Sunday. He was admitted to Army’s Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi on June 25 this year and was undergoing treatment for sepsis and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome after being in a coma for the past six years.
“It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Hon’ble Major Jaswant Singh (Retd), former Cabinet Minister of Government of India at 0655 hours on 27 September 2020. He was admitted on 25 Jun 2020 and being treated for Sepsis with Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome and effects of Severe Head Injury old (Optd) had a Cardiac arrest this morning,” the hospital said in a statement.
Singh— a four-time MP in the Lok Sabha and five-time in the Rajya Sabha—played a crucial role as an external affairs minister during the 1999 Kandahar IC-814 hijacking case, and had personally escorted most-wanted Maulana Masood Azhar and two other terrorists to Afganisthan in lieu for the release of 175 hostages held captive by the Pakistan-backed terrorists.
He is also known for his negotiation with the United States after the latter imposed a sanction on India, following the 1998 nuclear test.
Singh—a founding member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—was born in Jasol village of Barmer district in Rajasthan in 1938. Educated at Mayo College in Ajmer, he later was commissioned to the Indian Army after passing out from the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA).
Condoling his demise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: Jaswant Singh Ji served our nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics. During Atal Ji’s Government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence and external affairs. Saddened by his demise.”
Jaswant Singh Ji will be remembered for his unique perspective on matters of politics and society. He also contributed to the strengthening of the BJP. I will always remember our interactions. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 27, 2020
Modi, in a separate tweet, wrote: “Jaswant Singh Ji will be remembered for his unique perspective on matters of politics and society. He also contributed to the strengthening of the BJP. I will always remember our interactions. Condolences to his family and supporters.”
Politicians cutting down the parties paid rich tributes to Singh, saying that he served India diligently and will be remembered for his unique perspective on matters of politics and society.
Saddened by the passing away of Jaswant Singh, a gracious gentleman.
Although he was a minister in BJP governments, he did not come from the ranks of the RSS, and paid a price of being ignored after Vajpayeeji passed away.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) September 27, 2020
Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of veteran leader, thinker & writer, former Union minister #JaswantSingh ji. His contributions to defining &defending the Indian polity were substantial. His decency &courtliness were legendary. Profound condolences @ManvendraJasol
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 27, 2020
In 2009, BJP expelled him from the party after he praised Muhammad Ali Jinnah in his book Jinnah – India, Partition, Independence. However, he was later inducted to the party but he chose to part ways and contested as an Independent candidate from Barmer in Rajasthan. He lost to BJP’s Colonel Sona Ram in 2014 general elections.
Singh, who suffered a fall at his Delhi residence in August 2014, passed away after he had a cardiac arrest on Sunday morning. He is survived by his wife and two sons, including former Barmer MP Manvendra Singh.