Rajasthan Governor S K Singh dead

NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Governor S K Singh, a former Foreign Secretary and rated among the most distinguished in his generation of Indian diplomats, died here today after a prolonged illness.

Singh, 77, was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Ganga Ram Hospital in the city since November 5.

Singh, the country's longest serving envoy to Pakistan between 1985 and 1989, is survived by his wife Manju Singh and two sons Shashank and Kanishka. Kanishka Singh had quit his job as an investment banker to become Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's close political aide.

According to state government sources, Singh's body was taken to his residence at New Friends Colony here. In Jaipur, Rajasthan Government declared a seven-day state mourning from today.

Born on January 24, 1932, Singh was made the Foreign Secretary in February 1989 capping an illustrious career in the Indian Foreign Service(IFS). He was also the official spokesman of the Government of India between 1969 and 1974.

He became Rajasthan Governor in September 2007 after his predecessor Pratibha Patil was nominated as a candidate for the post of the country's President. He was shifted from Arunachal Pradesh where he assumed the Gubernatorial assignment in December 2004.

While in Arunachal Pradesh, Singh was an extremely vocal advocate articulating that Arunachal Pradesh is a non-negotiable part of sovereign India. He also crusaded for the inner line permit and restricted area permit required for travel to Arunachal Pradesh to be abolished.

In addition, he was instrumental in ensuring connectivity of the remote North-Eastern state with the rest of the country by building an airport in the state, constructing a railway line and improving the road network.