NEW DELHI: Okay Natwar Singh, the previous Congress chief recognized for his diversified roles in diplomacy, politics, and literature, handed away on Saturday night time on the age of 93. Singh had been battling a protracted sickness and was receiving therapy at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, close to Delhi.
Diplomatic stalwart
Born in 1931 in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, Singh’s profession spanned a number of fields.He began as a profession diplomat, becoming a member of the Indian Overseas Service in 1953. His diplomatic service included key postings in China, the US, Pakistan, and the UK. He additionally performed important roles as secretary-general of the Non-aligned Summit and Chief Coordinator of the Commonwealth Heads of Authorities Assembly in 1983.
In 1984, Singh transitioned from diplomacy to politics, becoming a member of the Indian Nationwide Congress and successful the Bharatpur seat within the Lok Sabha. He served as a Union minister of state till 1989. Singh’s return to prominence got here in 2004 when he was appointed minister for exterior affairs underneath Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
‘Oil-for-food’ rip-off
In 2005, the UN’s Volcker Committee implicated Singh within the Iraqi oil rip-off, resulting in his resignation from the ministry and the Congress get together.
In 2006, The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had investigated a Rs 8 crore transaction linked to the ‘oil-for-food’ rip-off. The cash was traced from London-based NRI businessman Aditya Khanna’s account to his Delhi account and was suspected to have been distributed amongst Indian beneficiaries, together with former exterior affairs minister Natwar Singh. The funds, recognized as a part of the rip-off’s proceeds, have been reportedly transferred to India after paying a fee to a Swiss agency.
Also read: ED traces Rs 8-cr to Delhi bank in connection with oil-for-food scam
Fallout with Congress, and expulsion from BSP
He had a robust rapport with former Prime Ministers Indira and Rajiv Gandhi however fell out with Sonia Gandhi over the scandal, upset that they didn’t defend him. Following his resignation, Singh joined the Bahujan Samaj Social gathering however was expelled inside months.
“On the time of the Rajya Sabha elections, he had expressed his need to enter into the fray on BSP ticket however as there have been a number of devoted get together employees who ought to have been given precedence over Singh he was informed that neither a capitalist nor an opportunist could be fielded”, BSP nationwide basic secretary Satish Chandra Misra had informed TOI.
Also read: BSP expels former external affairs minister Natwar Singh
Other than his political and diplomatic work, Singh was a prolific creator. His books embody ‘The Legacy of Nehru: A Memorial Tribute,’ ‘My China Diary 1956-88,’ and his autobiography ‘One Life is Not Sufficient.’
Singh was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1984.
Diplomatic stalwart
Born in 1931 in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, Singh’s profession spanned a number of fields.He began as a profession diplomat, becoming a member of the Indian Overseas Service in 1953. His diplomatic service included key postings in China, the US, Pakistan, and the UK. He additionally performed important roles as secretary-general of the Non-aligned Summit and Chief Coordinator of the Commonwealth Heads of Authorities Assembly in 1983.
In 1984, Singh transitioned from diplomacy to politics, becoming a member of the Indian Nationwide Congress and successful the Bharatpur seat within the Lok Sabha. He served as a Union minister of state till 1989. Singh’s return to prominence got here in 2004 when he was appointed minister for exterior affairs underneath Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
‘Oil-for-food’ rip-off
In 2005, the UN’s Volcker Committee implicated Singh within the Iraqi oil rip-off, resulting in his resignation from the ministry and the Congress get together.
In 2006, The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had investigated a Rs 8 crore transaction linked to the ‘oil-for-food’ rip-off. The cash was traced from London-based NRI businessman Aditya Khanna’s account to his Delhi account and was suspected to have been distributed amongst Indian beneficiaries, together with former exterior affairs minister Natwar Singh. The funds, recognized as a part of the rip-off’s proceeds, have been reportedly transferred to India after paying a fee to a Swiss agency.
Also read: ED traces Rs 8-cr to Delhi bank in connection with oil-for-food scam
Fallout with Congress, and expulsion from BSP
He had a robust rapport with former Prime Ministers Indira and Rajiv Gandhi however fell out with Sonia Gandhi over the scandal, upset that they didn’t defend him. Following his resignation, Singh joined the Bahujan Samaj Social gathering however was expelled inside months.
“On the time of the Rajya Sabha elections, he had expressed his need to enter into the fray on BSP ticket however as there have been a number of devoted get together employees who ought to have been given precedence over Singh he was informed that neither a capitalist nor an opportunist could be fielded”, BSP nationwide basic secretary Satish Chandra Misra had informed TOI.
Also read: BSP expels former external affairs minister Natwar Singh
Other than his political and diplomatic work, Singh was a prolific creator. His books embody ‘The Legacy of Nehru: A Memorial Tribute,’ ‘My China Diary 1956-88,’ and his autobiography ‘One Life is Not Sufficient.’
Singh was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1984.
