HN Bahuguna’s follower and fmr Home minister Ram Lal Rahi breathes his last at the age of 86
The former union minister of state for home affairs from 1991 to 1996 Ram Lal Rahi breathed his last today at the age of 86 after prolonged illness.
A popular Dalit leader of Uttar Pradesh especially in Sitapur, UP and four term member of parliament, Ram lal Rahi was primarily the political follower of the towering national leader, former Uttar Pradesh CM and four time union minister Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna.
Veteran leader of Uttar Pradesh and former union minister in former PM Narsinha Rao’s cabinet, Ram Lal Rahi plunged into active politics in 1965 who belonged to Dhandhad village of Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh.
Born in an extremely poor family in 1934 Rahi worked as a labourer to earn his n family’s livelihood. He started his political career as a Socialist party worker n leader, then joining the Janata Party after being highly influenced by the then UP chief minister Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna who lateron joined the Janta party rebelling against Congress n Indira Gandhi due to the imposition of draconion emergency in 1975 to 1977.
Ram Lal Rahi remained as a loyal Bahugunite and was elected MP during the Janata Party rule as Bahuguna’s dedicated follower to remain with him during Bahuguna’s thick and thin till his sad demise in 1989.
He joined Congress thereafter and was appointed as the union home minister during Narsimha Rao’s tenure as PM from 1991 to 1996.
Ram Lal Rahi was the member of parliament for four terms and his elder son being a lawmaker from Hargaon seat of UP on Samajwadi ticket . His younger son Suresh Rahi is currently the BJP lawmaker from this seat. His late wife Sundari Rahi was the Sitapur Zila Panchayat president. She had contested on the parliament seat last year on Congress ticket but lost.
A prominent Dalit leader of Uttar Pradesh Ram Lal Rahi was a relentless fighter for the rights of Dalits who changed parties after his God father HN Bahuguna’s demise. He was a product of relentless struggle and primarily a selfmade politician with a modest background.
According to the senior advocate of Supreme Court n former Yuva Janata Dal general secretary during Janta Party rule :
Very sad to know about the sad demise of Shri RAM LAL RAHI, former State Home Minister in Nursimha Rao Cabinet !! ….We came across in 1977 during Janta Party regime when he was elected for Lok Sabha and I became the National General Secretary of Yuva Janta…..A very frank & outspoken person, he was a friend of friends and a philanthropist. He was a ground level politician and a man of the masses who always fought for the downtrodden and raised the problems of a common man…. With his death I have lost a friend indeed….May his soul rest in peace ! My heart felt condolences to his breaved family and pray to God to give them strength to bear this irreparable loss.
May his soul rest in peace.
