->AgniKalpa at 08:46, 8 January 2022

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{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Buta Singh
| image = Buta_Singh_(headshot).jpg
| caption = Singh in 2012
| office6 = [[Chairman]] [[National Commission for Scheduled Castes]]
| term_start6 = 2007
| term_end6 = 2010
| predecessor6 = [[Suraj Bhan]]
| successor6 = [[P. L. Punia]]
| primeminister6 = [[Manmohan Singh]]
| office4 = [[Governor of Bihar]]
| term_start4 = 2004
| term_end4 = 2006
| predecessor4 =
| successor4 = [[Gopalkrishna Gandhi]]
| office9 = [[Ministry of Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (India)|Minister of Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution]]
| term_start9 = 1995
| term_end9 = 1996
| primeminister9 = [[P.V. Narasimha Rao]]
| office2 = [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Minister of Home Affairs]]
| term_start2 = 1986
| term_end2 = 1989
| predecessor2 = [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]
| successor2 = [[Mufti Mohammad Sayeed]]
| primeminister2 = [[Rajiv Gandhi]]
| office3 = [[Ministry of Agriculture (India)|Minister of Agriculture]] [[Minister of Rural Development (India)|Minister of Rural Development]]
| term_start3 = 1984
| term_end3 = 1986
| primeminister3 = [[Rajiv Gandhi]]
| office7 = [[Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (India)|Minister of Parliamentary Affairs]] [[Minister of Sports]]
| term_start7 = 1982
| term_end7 = 1984
| primeminister7 = [[Indira Gandhi]]
| office8 = [[Chairman]] [[Asian Games Special Organizing Committee]]
| term_start8 = 1981
| term_end8 = 1982
| primeminister8 = [[Indira Gandhi]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1934|3|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = Mustafapur, [[Jalandhar district]], [[Punjab (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]] (now [[India]])
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|1|2|1934|3|21|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/former-union-minister-and-congress-leader-buta-singh-passes-away-/articleshow/80069230.cms | title=Former Union minister and Congress leader Buta Singh passes | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=2 January 2021 | access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref>
| death_place = AIIMS, [[New Delhi, India]]
| constituency =
| office =
| party = [[Indian National Congress]]
| religion = Sikhism
| spouse = Manjit Kaur
| children = [[Arvinder Singh Lovely (Deoli MLA)|Arvinder Singh Lovely]] (son)
Sarabjot Singh (son)
Gurkirat Kaur (daughter)
| relatives = Alka Singh (daughter-in-law)
Devyani Singh (daughter-in-law)

Raman Pandoi (son-in-law)

Jaskirat Kaur Jain (granddaughter)

Aditya Jain (grandson-in-law)

Kunwar Harjinder Singh (grandson)

Kabir Ishar Singh (grandson)

Simran Sidhu (granddaughter)

Mannat Jain (great granddaughter)

Meher Jain (great granddaughter)
| date =
| year =
| source = http://loksabhaph.nic.in/Members/memberbioprofile.aspx?mpsno=435&lastls=13
| alt = Singh in 2012
}}
'''Buta Singh''' (21 March 1934 – 2 January 2021) was an Indian politician and a senior leader of the [[Indian National Congress]]. He was the [[Union Home Minister]] of India, [[Governor of Bihar]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-former-home-minister-buta-singh-passes-away-at-86/369170 | title=Former Home Minister Buta Singh Passes Away At 86 | publisher=Outlook | date=2 January 2021 | access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref> and was chairman of the [[National Commission for Scheduled Castes]] from 2007 to 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/former-union-minister-buta-singh-dies-aged-86-pm-narendra-modi-rahul-gandhi-offer-condolences-2333989.html | title=Former Union Minister Buta Singh dies aged 86, PM Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi offer condolences | publisher=Zee News | date=2 January 2021 | access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref>

==Early life==
Buta Singh was born on 21 March 1934 in [[Mazhabi Sikh]] family at Mustafapur, [[Jalandhar district]], [[Punjab, British India|Punjab]], [[British India]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-01-02|title=Congress veteran and ex-home minister Buta Singh passes away at 86; Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi pay tribute|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/congress-veteran-and-ex-home-minister-buta-singh-passes-away-at-86-narendra-modi-rahul-gandhi-pay-tribute-9166741.html|access-date=2021-01-02|website=[[Firstpost]]|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]}}</ref> He was educated at [[Lyallpur Khalsa College]] in Jalandhar, from where he was awarded a B.A. (Hons), and at [[Guru Nanak College (GTB nagar) Mumbai|Guru Nanak Khalsa College]] in [[Mumbai|Bombay]], where he earned a M.A. Singh then gained a Ph.D. from [[Bundelkhand University]]. He married Manjit Kaur in 1964; the couple had three children.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hon'ble Governor of Bihar – Sardar Buta Singh |url=http://governor.bih.nic.in/Governors/ButaSingh.htm |publisher=National Informatics Centre, India |access-date=17 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203154101/http://governor.bih.nic.in/Governors/ButaSingh.htm# |archive-date=3 February 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He worked as journalist before entering politics. He fought his first elections as an [[Akali Dal]] member and joined the [[Indian National Congress]] in the late 1960s at the time when that party was split.

==Political career==
Singh was first elected to the [[Lok Sabha]] in 1962, for the [[Moga, Punjab|Moga]] constituency.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-01-02|title=Congress veteran Buta Singh passes away|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/former-home-minister-buta-singh-passes-away/article33478228.ece|access-date=2021-01-02|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He was subsequently elected to the 4th (from Ropar in 1967), 5th, 7th, 8th (from [[Jalore (Lok Sabha constituency)|Jalore]]), 10th (1991), 12th and 13th Lok Sabhas. He was involved with the Congress Party since [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] was Prime Minister and he was close to former Indian prime ministers [[Indira Gandhi]] and [[Rajiv Gandhi]]. But he was first elected to the [[Indian Parliament]] from the Moga constituency as Akali Dal candidate, defeating his Congress opponent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://loksabhaph.nic.in/Members/memberbioprofile.aspx?mpsno=435&lastls=13|title=Members : Lok Sabha|website=loksabhaph.nic.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.in/parliamentary-constituencies/1962-election-results.html|title=1962 India General (3rd Lok Sabha) Elections Results|website=www.elections.in}}</ref>

He switched to [[Ropar (Lok Sabha constituency) | Ropar]] constituency in 1967, this time as a Congress candidate, and was elected from there to Lok Sabha a couple of times. He became [[General Secretary]] of the [[All India Congress Committee]] (AICC) [[General Secretary]] (1978–1980), [[Home Minister]] of India and later [[Governor of Bihar]] (2004–2006). Other portfolios that he has held include those for railways, commerce, parliamentary affairs, sports, shipping, agriculture, communications and housing. He was chairman of the [[National Commission for Scheduled Castes]] (ranked as Cabinet Minister) from 2007 to 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.uniindia.com/former-union-minister-and-congress-leader-buta-singh-dies-at-86/india/news/2281045.html | title=Former union minister and Congress leader Buta Singh dies | publisher=UNI | date=2 January 2021 | access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref>

He wrote a book ''Punjabi Speaking State – A Critical Analysis'' and a collection of articles on Punjabi literature and Sikh history.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/true-public-servant-loyal-leader-rahul-gandhi-condoles-buta-singh-s-death/story-a9f3ginLLWy1RkNStVS0pN.html | title='True public servant, loyal leader': Rahul Gandhi condoles Buta Singh's death | publisher=Hindustan Times | date=2 January 2021 | access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref> Indira Gandhi chose him to select a new party symbol when Congress was split. He was very closely involved with her in [[Operation Blue Star]] and as a minister he oversaw reconstruction of the [[Harmandir Sahib|Golden Temple]] following that exercise.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/former-home-minister-buta-singh-passes-away/2162687/ | title=Former home minister Buta Singh passes away | publisher=Financial Express | date=2 January 2021 | access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref> His name was also in the finalists for the post of [[President of India]] along with [[Giani Zail Singh]] in the Indira era. He was also the chairperson of [[Asian Games]] organizing committee when the competition was held in India in 1982.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19821215-we-are-also-trying-to-bring-the-world-cup-football-to-new-delhi-buta-singh-772497-2013-07-31 | title=We are also trying to bring the World Cup Football to New Delhi: Buta Singh | publisher=India Today | date=15 December 1982 | access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref>

He contested 2014 Lok Sabha election from [[Jalore (Lok Sabha constituency)]] as an independent, backed by Samajwadi Party, but he came third.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/mulayam-fields-buta-from-jalore-sirohi|title=Mulayam fields Buta from Jalore-Sirohi|website=Free Press Journal}}</ref>

==Controversies==
In 1998, as Communications Minister he was indicted in the JMM bribery case, and forced to resign.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Viswanathan, Prema |date=21 April 1998 |title=Hegde rules out resignation, defends Vajpayee |newspaper=The Indian Express |url=http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/fe/daily/19980421/11155624.html |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6bn6wuKYG?url=http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/fe/daily/19980421/11155624.html |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead |access-date=24 September 2015 }}</ref>

As the Governor of Bihar, Singh's decision to recommend the dissolution of the Bihar Assembly in 2005 was sharply criticised by the [[Supreme Court of India]]. The court ruled that Singh had acted in haste and misled the federal cabinet because he did not want a particular party claiming to form the government, to come to power.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Sharma, Avinash |date=28 February 2009 |title=Bihar Assembly Dissolution Case |publisher=Legal Service India |url=http://www.legalserviceindia.com/article/l315-Bihar-Assembly-Dissolution-Case.html |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6bmzBbnKW?url=http://www.legalserviceindia.com/article/l315-Bihar-Assembly-Dissolution-Case.html |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author=Verma, Avnindra Kumar |year=2009 |title=Political Science, Class XI |location=New Delhi |publisher=Rahul Jain (V.K. (India) Enterprises) |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=KFk1K9_yf90C&pg=PA146 146] |isbn=978-81-89597-13-9}}</ref>

Singh, however, claimed that the party was resorting to unfair means to secure support to form the government. On 26 January 2006 Singh sent a fax to [[Abdul Kalam]] offering to resign his post.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bihar governor offers resignation |work=BBC News | date=26 January 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4650474.stm |access-date=4 January 2010}}</ref> The next day he left office and was replaced temporarily by West Bengal governor [[Gopalkrishna Gandhi]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Veteran politician R S Gavai new Bihar Governor |date=22 June 2006 |newspaper=One India |publisher=Greynium Information Technologies Pvt. Ltd. |url=http://www.oneindia.com/2006/06/22/r-s-gavai-sworn-in-as-bihar-governor-1150981920.html |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6bmzn6gaS?url=http://www.oneindia.com/2006/06/22/r-s-gavai-sworn-in-as-bihar-governor-1150981920.html |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Death==
Singh died in [[New Delhi]] from complications of a [[cerebral haemorrhage]] on 2 January 2021, at age 86.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/congress-leader-and-former-union-minister-buta-singh-passes-away/story-iZbV3OaHwPJz7acv6WnQwM.html|title = Congress leader and former Union minister Buta Singh passes away|work = [[The Hindustan Times]]|date = 2 January 2021|access-date = 2 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = https://indianexpress.com/article/india/buta-singh-dies-7129737/|title = Former Union minister Buta Singh passes away|work = [[The Indian Express]]|date = 2 January 2021|access-date = 2 January 2021}}</ref>

==Positions held==

# 1962 : Elected to 3rd Lok Sabha, from [[Moga, Punjab|Moga]] seat, as Akali Dal candidate<ref>{{cite web | url=http://loksabhaph.nic.in/Members/memberbioprofile.aspx?mpsno=435&lastls=13 | title=Buta Singh Profile | publisher=Lok Sabha | access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref>
# 1966–68 : Member, Public Accounts Committee.
# 1967 : Re-elected to 4th Lok Sabha (2nd term) as Congress candidate, [[Ropar (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
# 1971 : Re-elected to 5th Lok Sabha (3rd term), from [[Ropar (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
# 1971 : Chairman, Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
# 1973–74 : Convenor, All India Congress Committee (Indira) [AICC(I)], Harijan Cell.
# 1974–76 : Union Deputy Minister, Railways.
# 1976–77 : Union Deputy Minister, Commerce.
# 1978–80 : General-Secretary, AICC(I).
# 1980 : Re-elected to 7th Lok Sabha (4th term), from [[Ropar (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
# 1980–82 : Union Minister of State, Shipping and Transport.
# 1982 : Union Minister of State, Supply and Rehabilitation (Independent Charge).
# 1982–83 : Union Minister of State, Supply and Sports (Independent Charge).
# 1983–84 : Union Cabinet Minister, Parliamentary Affairs, Sports and Works and Housing.
# 1984 : Re-elected to 8th Lok Sabha (5th term), from [[Jalore (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
# 1984–85 : Union Cabinet Minister, Agriculture and Rural Development.
# 1985–86 : Union Cabinet Minister, Agriculture.
# 1986–89 : Union Cabinet Minister, Home Affairs.
# 1991 : Re-elected to 10th Lok Sabha (6th term), [[Jalore (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
# 1994–95 : Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Defence.
# 1995–96 : Union Cabinet Minister, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution.
# 1998 : Re-elected to 12th Lok Sabha (7th term), [[Jalore (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
# Mar–Apr. 1998: Union Cabinet Minister, Communications.
# 1998–99 : Member, Committee on Subordinate Legislation and Member, Committee on Finance.
# 1999 : Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha (8th term), [[Jalore (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
# 1999–2000 : Member, Committee of Privileges and Member, Committee on Communications.
# 1999–2001 : Member, Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
# 2002–2003 : Chairman, Public Accounts Committee, Room No.-51, Parliament House, New Delhi.
# 2004–2006 : Governor Of Bihar
# 2006–2007 : Permanent Invitee Congress Working Committee
# 2007–2010 : Chairman National Commission For Scheduled Castes (rank of Cabinet Minister)

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|in-lwr}}
{{s-bef|before=Constituency does not exist}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for [[Ropar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Ropar]] |years=1967–1977}}
{{s-aft|after=Basant Singh Khalsa}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Basant Singh Khalsa}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for [[Ropar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Ropar]] |years=1980–1984}}
{{s-aft|after=Charanjit Singh}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Virda Ram Phulwariya}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for [[Jalore (Lok Sabha constituency)|Jalore]] |years=1984–1989}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Kailash Chandra Meghwal]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Kailash Chandra Meghwal]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for [[Jalore (Lok Sabha constituency)|Jalore]] |years=1991–1996}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Parsaram Meghwal]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Parsaram Meghwal]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for [[Jalore (Lok Sabha constituency)|Jalore]] |years=1998–2004}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Susheela Laxman Bangaru]]}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Bhishma Narain Singh]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (India)|Minister of Parliamentary Affairs]]|years=29 January 1983 – 31 December 1984}}
{{s-aft|after=[[H. K. L. Bhagat]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Birender Singh (politician, born 1921)|Rao Birender Singh]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare|Minister of Agriculture]]|years=1984 – 12 May 1986}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Gurdial Singh Dhillon]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Minister of Home Affairs]]|years=12 May 1986 – 2 December 1989}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Mufti Mohammad Sayeed]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Ved Marwah]] Acting}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of governors of Bihar|Governor of Bihar]]|years=5 November 2004 – 29 January 2006}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Gopalkrishna Gandhi]]}}
|-
{{s-end}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://loksabhaph.nic.in/Members/memberbioprofile.aspx?mpsno=435&lastls=13 Official biographical sketch on the Parliament of India website]

{{Home Ministry (India)}}
{{Ministry of Communications (India)}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Buta}}
[[Category:Governors of Bihar]]
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:3rd Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:4th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:5th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:7th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:8th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:10th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:12th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:13th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Chairmans of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes]]
[[Category:Ministers of Internal Affairs of India]]
[[Category:Agriculture Ministers of India]]
[[Category:Members of the Cabinet of India]]
[[Category:United Progressive Alliance candidates in the 2014 Indian general election]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians]]
[[Category:Shiromani Akali Dal politicians]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:People from Rupnagar district]]
[[Category:People from Jalore district]]
[[Category:Indian Sikhs]]

Buta Singh - Revision history

->AgniKalpa at 08:46, 8 January 2022