Pandit Sukh Ram, a veteran Congress leader and former Union minister, has died, according to his grandson. His age was 94. On May 7, Sukh Ram was admitted to New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
Sukh Ram's grandson Aashray Sharma, a Himachal Pradesh Congress leader, wrote on Facebook late Tuesday night, "Goodbye, Grandfather. (Alvida Dadajee, Abhi Nahi Bajegee Phone Ki Ghanti) Now the phone will not ring."
However, there was no mention of when he died in the post.
Sharma also shared a snapshot from his childhood with Sukh Ram on Facebook.
From 1993 to 1996, Sukh Ram served as the Union Minister of State for Communications (Independent Charge). He represented Himachal Pradesh's Mandi constituency in the Lok Sabha
He was elected to the Vidhan Sabha five times and the Lok Sabha three times. He was convicted to five years in jail in 2011 for corruption while serving as Minister of Communications in 1996.
Anil Sharma, Sukh Ram's son, is a BJP MLA from Mandi.
From 1963 through 1984, Sukh Ram served in the Mandi Assembly. He introduced cows from Germany to Himachal Pradesh during his time as Animal Husbandry Minister, resulting in an increase in state farmer revenue.
He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1984 and served in the Rajiv Gandhi cabinet as a junior minister.
Sukh Ram was the Minister of State in charge of defence production and supply, as well as planning, food and civil supplies. From 1993 to 1996, Sukh Ram was the Union minister of state (independent charge) for communications.