This Article is From Jul 28, 2019

Former Union Minister Jaipal Reddy Dies At 77

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Jaipal Reddy died at a hospital in Hyderabad in the early hours of Sunday. He was 77. He was recently diagnosed with pneumonia.

Jaipal Reddy has been a parliamentarian since 1984.

Highlights

  • Jaipal Reddy, 77, died in the early hours of Sunday
  • Jaipal Reddy has been a parliamentarian since 1984
  • His funeral is expected to take place in Hyderabad on Monday
Hyderabad:

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Jaipal Reddy died at a hospital in Hyderabad in the early hours of Sunday. He was 77. He was recently diagnosed with pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital, where he died at 1.28 am.

Jaipal Reddy has been a parliamentarian since 1984. During his political career, Mr Reddy served as a Lok Sabha MP five times and was elected to the Rajya Sabha twice.

President Ram Nath Kovind called Jaipal Reddy "a thinking person's politician" in his condolence message. "Sorry to hear of the passing of Shri S. Jaipal Reddy, former Union Minister. He was a thinking person's politician and an outstanding parliamentarian. My condolences to his family and many associates," he tweeted from his official handle.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while condoling Mr Reddy's death, said the former union minister was an articulate speaker and an effective administrator.

The Congress, in a tweet, said it was saddened to hear about Mr Reddy's death.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Jaipal Reddy was an outstanding parliamentarian who dedicated his entire life towards public service.

Uttam Kumar Reddy, who heads the Congress in Telangana, remembered him as one of the state's greatest sons.

TRS working president KT Rama Rao, son of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, also condoled the death. "My condolences to the family and friends of senior leader and former union minister Shri Jaipal Reddy Garu who passed away earlier today. RIP Sir (sic)," he tweeted. 

Mr Reddy was the information and broadcasting minister in the government led by former prime minister IK Gujral. During the UPA-1 government, he held portfolios like urban development and culture.

In UPA-2, he was again assigned the urban development ministry. Later, he became the minister of petroleum and natural gas, but was shifted to the science and technology and earth sciences ministries.

Mr Reddy's funeral will take place in Hyderabad on Monday.

(with inputs from agencies)

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