Veteran Congress leader Jaipal Reddy passes away at 77

Congress leaders recalled that he played a crucial role in convincing the United Progressive Alliance-II government and the All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi to grant separate statehood to Telangana. 

Senior Congress leader and former Union minister S Jaipal Reddy, who was known for his oratorical skills and carved a place for himself in Parliament and state assembly, died at a hospital in Hyderabad on Sunday.

The 77-year-old was recently diagnosed with pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital, where he died at 1.28 am, a Congress leader said.

Reddy's limited physical mobility due to polio never deterred him from achieving political heights and he served as a Lok Sabha MP for five terms, as a member of Rajya Sabha for two terms and was a four-term MLA.

He had agitated against the imposition of Emergency and came out of the party.

After coming out of the Congress, he joined the Janata party and contested against Indira Gandhi in Medak Lok Sabha constituency in 1980.

He later joined its splinter group Janata Dal.

Besides earning him accolades, his exceptional oratorical skills and articulation made him the spokesperson for the United Front and National Front governments and the Congress Party.

Reddy was a staunch supporter of separate statehood for Telangana.

Congress leaders recalled that he played a crucial role in convincing the United Progressive Alliance-II government and the All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi to grant separate statehood to Telangana.

A parliamentarian for several decades, he held key portfolios in various governments.

He was conferred the Best Parliamentarian Award in 1998.

He was a member of the Andhra Pradesh (undivided) legislative assembly from 1969 to 1984.

He served as Union minister of information and broadcasting in the IK Gujral government and was allotted different portfolios in the Manmohan Singh government.

In UPA-2, he was assigned the urban development ministry.

Later, he became the minister of petroleum and natural gas, but was shifted to the science and technology and earth sciences ministries, triggering a political storm.

It was widely speculated that Jaipal Reddy was shunted out of the petroleum ministry owing to the notices issued to certain oil and gas companies on production issues.

Congress Lok Sabha member from Komatireddy, Venkat Reddy, said the last rites of Jaipal Reddy will take place on Monday.

Speaking to reporters at Jaipal Reddy's residence, Venkat Reddy said the state government should allocate a place for performing the last rites keeping in view the popularity of the leader.

President Ram Nath Kovind and vice president M Venkaiah Naidu condoled the demise of the Congress leader.

"Sorry to hear of the passing of Shri S. Jaipal Reddy, former Union Minister. He was a thinking person's politician and an outstanding parliamentarian. My condolences to his family and many associates," the president said in a tweet.

Naidu said Reddy was his close friend of four decades and they used to sit next to each other in the Andhra Pradesh assembly.

"An exemplary orator, he was conferred 'Outstanding Parliamentarian Award' in 1998. With his razor sharp intellect and biting wit, he was also a powerful spokesperson of the party to which he belonged," the vice president said in his message.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed condolences over the passing away of Jaipal Reddy.

"Shri Jaipal Reddy had years of experience in public life. He was respected as an articulate speaker and effective administrator. Saddened by his demise," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted quoting Modi.

Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart YS Jagan Mohan Reddy condoled the death of senior Congress leader.

Top Congress leaders also condoled the demise of Reddy, with Rahul Gandhi describing him as a distinguished parliamentarian and the son of Telangana.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh said Reddy was a treasure of wisdom and knowledge.

"Deeply saddened by the untimely passing away of my friend and veteran Congress leader Shri Jaipal Reddy. He was a treasure of wisdom and knowledge. My condolences to the bereaved family," Singh said.

"I'm sorry to hear about the sad demise of former Union Minister & veteran Congress leader Shri Jaipal Reddy Garu," Gandhi tweeted.

"An outstanding parliamentarian, great son of Telangana, he dedicated his entire life towards public service. My deepest condolences to his family & friends," he said.

Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram said he was deeply saddened by the passing away of Reddy.

"Behind every word that he spoke or wrote, there was deep scholarship and a passion that was remarkable. He effortlessly combined old world values and the new world's technologies," he said.

Chidambaram said Reddy would be greatly missed by his friends, admirers and the Telugu people.

"We are saddened to hear of the passing of former Union Minister Jaipal Reddy. A senior Congress leader, he served as an LS MP 5 times, an RS MP 2 times and as an MLA 4 times. We hope his family and friends find strength in their time of grief," the Congress tweeted.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said he was extremely saddened at the unfortunate demise of Reddy.

"He stood for modern values of democracy and was known for impeccable honesty in administration. May his soul rest in peace," Surjewala tweeted.