Tributes Pour In After Death Of Ex-EAM Natwar Singh; PM Modi Remembers His Contributions To Diplomacy

PM Modi, EAM Jaishankar expressed condolences on the passing of veteran Congress leader and former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, who died at age 93 after a prolonged illness.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condoled the passing away of Congress veteran leader and former external affairs minister K Natwar Singh and remembered his rich contributions to the world of diplomacy and foreign policy. Singh passed away at the age of 93 on Saturday night after a prolonged illness.

His last rite will be performed in Delhi, news agency PTI reported quoting family sources.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Pained by the passing away of Shri Natwar Singh Ji. He made rich contributions to the world of diplomacy and foreign policy. He was also known for his intellect as well as prolific writing. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this hour of grief. Om Shanti."

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar also consoled Singh's demise and recalled his role in the July 2005 India - US nuclear deal.

"Deeply saddened by the passing away of K Natwar Singh, distinguished diplomat and former External Affairs Minister. His many contributions include a vital role in the July 2005 India - US nuclear deal. His writings, especially on China, provided valuable insights into our diplomacy. Condolences to his family. Om Shanti," he said in a post on X.

Senior politician Randeep Surjewala paid tribute to the former external affairs minister in a post on X. "The news of the demise of former Foreign Minister Natwar Singh ji is sad. May God give strength to his family to bear this loss and grant peace to the departed soul," he wrote on the social media platform in Hindi and also posted a photograph of Singh. 

Singh breathed his last at Gurugram's Medanta Hospital on Saturday night, where he had been admitted for the past two weeks. A career diplomat, Singh studied history at St. Stephen’s College in Delhi. For his higher education, he went to Cambridge in the UK and Peking University in China.

During his distinguished career, Singh wore many hats. He was selected into the Indian Foreign Service in 1953, which he quit in 1984 when he contested from Bharatpur in Rajasthan on a Congress ticket and became a Lok Sabha MP.  In 1985, he was sworn in as a Minister of State (MoS) and allotted the portfolios of Steel, Coal and Mines, and Agriculture. In 1986, he became MoS for External Affairs. He served as the External Affairs Minister in 2004-05 during the UPA-I government led by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.