Veteran Indian politician Mulayam Singh Yadav passes away

Veteran Indian politician and Samajwadi Party (SP) founder Mulayam Singh Yadav died of prolonged illness at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, 29 km away from New Delhi, on Monday morning. He was 82.

The three times Chief Minister of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Mulayam Singh Yadav had been critical for days and had been on life-saving drugs at the hospital.

"My respected father and everyone's Neta-ji has died, "The Samajwadi Party quoted Mulayam Singh's son Akhilesh Yadav as saying.

Uttar Pradesh government has announced a three-day mourning for the demise of Mulayam Singh Yadav, a veteran politician and champion of backward caste's empowerment.

He founded the caste-based Samajwadi Party in 1992 and developed its network in UP and different parts of north India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief's ministers of different Indian states including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled the death of Mulayam Singh Yadav.

"Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav Ji was a remarkable personality. He was widely admired as a humble and grounded leader who was sensitive to people's problems," Modi said in a statement.

The Prime Minister said that Yadav served people diligently and devoted his life towards popularising the ideals of Loknayak JP and Dr Lohia."

"Mulayam Singh Yadav Ji distinguished himself in UP and national politics. He was a key soldier for democracy during the Emergency," he added.

Prime Minister Modi said as a defence minister, he (Mulayam Singh Yadav) worked for a stronger India and his parliamentary interventions were insightful and emphasised on furthering national interest.