SC/ST Commission Chairman Suraj Bhan dead

NEW DELHI: Suraj Bhan, Chairman of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) Commission and senior BJP BJP leader Suraj Bhan died of cardiac arrest following multiple organ failure on Sunday.

The 78-year-old Bhan, who was admitted to AIIMS two days back following several complications, including heart and respiratory, is survived by his wife, four daughters and three sons.

"He was admitted to the ICU in the Cardiac Centre a day before and was suffering from ailments like pneumonia, septiceamia and major heart problem. He passed away at around 5:45 pm today," a hospital spokesman said, adding the senior leader suffered a multiple organ failure today that led to the cardiac arrest.

Known as a committed crusader against casteism and for upliftment and welfare of the backward classes, Bhan was elected to the Lok Sabha four times from Ambala seat in Haryana and was Deputy Speaker of the House during 1996-97. He had also served as Union Agriculture Minister in 1996.

Hailing from Haryana, he served as Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar.

Bhan was Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee that revised the list of SCs and STs in 1978-79.

He was appointed Chairman of the SC/ST Commission on February 24, 2004.

Bhan had also served as Revenue Minister of Haryana and Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly.

Actively associated with the Jan Sangh from 1967, he was a member of several committees that looked into SC/ST affairs.

Bhan's cremation will be held on Monday in Ambala, an aide of the late leader said.

Plans are underway to keep his body in state at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi before being taken to Ambala, he added.

Kalam condoles Suraj Bhan's death

President A P J Abdul Kalam condoled the death of SC/ST Commission Chairman and senior BJP leader Suraj Bhan, saying he will be remembered for his contribution to public life.

"Dr Suraj Bhan will be remembered for his contribution to public life over the past many decades during which he occupied many important positions," he said in a statement.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda expressed deep shock and sorrow over Bhan's death and remembered him as a seasoned parliamentarian and an able administrator.

"He devoted whole of his life for the betterment of the scheduled and backward classes," he said.

BJP President Rajnath Singh recalled Bhan as a true nationalist.

"He had worked tirelessly for the betterment of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and has left a mark in this field and the country will always remember him for that," he said in his condolence message.