Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Kairana in Uttar Pradesh Hukum Singh passed away this evening at a hospital in Noida. He was 79.
The 79-year-old leader was admitted to JP Hospital in Noida for nearly a month due to respiratory problem.
Singh hails from the Gurjar community. A seasoned politician, Singh had previously been elected as a Member of the UP Legislative Assembly for seven terms -- 1974–77, 1980–89 and 1996-2014. In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, he had successfully contested from Kairana.
He had also served as a Cabinet Minister in Uttar Pradesh governments under both BJP and the Congress.
Singh, who was elected from the Kairana seat, is survived by five daughters.
Condoling his death Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter, "Anguished by the demise of MP and veteran leader from Uttar Pradesh, Shri Hukum Singh Ji. He served the people of UP with great diligence and worked for the welfare of farmers. My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this hour of grief."
BJP president Amit Shah said Singh's demise was an irreparable loss for the party.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also condoled the BJP leader's death.
In a tweet Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel expressed shock over Singh's death and said it was a huge loss for the BJP.
Before the UP Assembly elections last year, he had highlighted the issue of alleged migration of the Hindus from parts of his Lok Sabha constituency and its neighbourhood.
The Lok Sabha is likely to be adjourned on Monday as a mark of respect to the BJP leader after paying tributes to him.