BJP leader

New Delhi, Aug 6 (UNI) Senior BJP leader and the Chairman of the National Commission for SC/STs Suraj Bhan died at All India Institute of Medical Sciences here this evening following a cardiac arrest, sources close to the leader said.

According to his party colleague and former Rajya Sabha MP Ramnath Kovind, Mr Bhan, who had been admitted to AIIMS three days ago, died at 1700 hrs due to a cardiac arrest.

Mr Bhan, who was in his late 70s, leaves behind his wife and three sons.

Mr Bhan has been a Union Minister for Agriculture in 1998 in the NDA Government at the Centre under the Prime Ministership of Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He had also served as Uttar Pradesh Governor in 1999 and later as Himachal Pradesh Governor in 2003.

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