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A steadfast Congress leader

Special Correspondent

Ram Niwas Mirdha

JAIPUR: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Ram Niwas Mirdha, who passed away in New Delhi on Friday, was the eldest of the illustrious Mirdha family of Nagaur in Rajasthan.

Mr. Ram Niwas Mirdha was Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha from 1977 to 1980 and Minister for Water Resources, External Affairs, Communication, and Textiles. He was also Minister of State holding the portfolios of Home Affairs, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Defence Production and Supply and Rehabilitation. He was elected to the 10th Lok Sabha from Barmer.

Born to well-known farmer leader Baldev Ram Mirdha, Mr. Ram Niwas Mirdha had his education from the Universities of Allahabad and Lucknow besides the Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva.

A cousin of the late farmer leader, Nathuram Mirdha, Mr. Ram Niwas Mirdha remained steadfast with the Congress party throughout his public life. Though at times termed “too docile and cultured” to be a Jat leader by the Jats themselves, he commanded all-round respect within the community and outside.

In 1992, he was appointed chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) which probed the securities scandal.

The Rajasthan Cabinet expressed grief over the death of Mr. Mirdha, who had been a member of the Assembly from 1953 to 1967. President Pratibha Patil has also condoled Mr. Ram Niwas Mirdha’s death.

Manmohan condoles death

PTI reports:

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described Mr. Ram Niwas Mirdha as an able and experienced political leader who made rich contributions to different areas of public life.

Dr. Singh recalled Mr. Mirdha’s role as Minister of External Affairs in 1984 and in other positions he held.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi also condoled the death of Mr. Mirdha.

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