Amar Singh, Rajya Sabha member breathed his last at a Singapore hospital on Saturday. He had been undergoing extensive treatment at the hospital for the past several months and had been admitted to its intensive care unit. He was 64.
Leaders across the political sphere paid condolences to Amar Singh’s death saying he was one of those politicians who maintained strong friendships in almost all the parties
The exuberant businessman-politician, counted India’s most influential personalities from industry, politics and Bollywood as close friends, had played an integral role in mapping the shape of Indian politics till about a decade ago. Reportedly in 2008, he also lent a helping hand to then Manmohan Singh government survive a crucial trust vote that eventually got him arrested three years later. He was also charged with bribing three BJP MPs to acquire their support towards the UPA.
Amar Singh wanted to retire from politics, but ended up forming his own political party which eventually failed to work out. He and his party repeatedly lost every election it fought and then he went on to join Ajit Singh’s Rashtriya Lok Dal, but all efforts went in vain.
In 2016, Mulayam Singh Yadav eventually came to rescue to help him win the Rajya Sabha election. But when son Akhilesh Yadav succeeded his father, he got Amar Singh expelled from the party the next year. As Hindustan Times reports, Singh continues to be a neutral member of the Rajya Sabha, occasionally.
Amar Singh, who underwent a kidney transplant in the Singapore hospital more than a decade back, continued with his battle to health issues and was again hospitalized earlier this year.
During his stay at the hospital on March 2, Singh refuted speculations regarding his demise. He shared a 2-minute long video to rubbish all rumours and stressed that he was fighting back. “Tiger Zinda Hai,” he wrote in his short message.
He also shared a short video message on March 22 from the hospital, pleading all his supporters to back Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the fight against the deadly Covid-19 . His Twitter handle remained active till hours before the news of death spread like wildfire.
His last two tweets were tributes to freedom fighter and educationist Bal Gangadhar Tilak on his death anniversary. In another tweet, he remembered to wish his friends on the occasion of Eid Al Adha.