BJP MP Hukum Singh dead

Lucknow:  BJP MP from Kairana in western Uttar Pradesh, Hukum Singh passed away at a private hospital in Noida late on Saturday, family members said. He was 79.

The veteran leader, who had a considerable hold in the Gujjar community, had been admitted to the Noida hospital a few days back, due to some breathing problems.

Hukum Singh, who had been a seven-time member of the Uttar Pradesh state assembly, had served in the Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Kalyan Singh, Ram Prakash Gupta, Rajnath Singh and Mayawati governments in the state.

He had shot to prominence not long ago after he raked up the issue of migration of Hindu families from Kairana and neighbouring areas, kicking up a storm.

Minutes before his death, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Mahendra Nath Pandey had visited him at the hospital, a party leader said.

IANS