Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, who rolled out rural job scheme, dead

NEW DELHI: Veteran socialist Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, who had presided over the rollout of MGNREG as rural development minister in UPA-1, died in New Delhi on Sunday. He was 74.
Just three days ago, Singh had written a letter to RJD chief Lalu Prasad, saying he was quitting the party.
He had been admitted to AIIMS, Patna, after testing positive for Covid-19 nearly three months ago.Two weeks ago, Singh was shifted to AIIMS, Delhi, after his condition did not improve. His health deteriorated on Friday night and he was put on ventilator support.
Singh had represented Bihar’s Vaishali Lok Sabha seat for five terms and had served as a minister in the Karpoori Thakur government in 1977.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said Singh’s last rites would be performed with full state honours.
President Ramnath Kovind, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, PM Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah were among the leaders who mourned Singh’s death.