SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, April 2: Senior Congress leader of the united Bihar era and veteran trade union leader Shailendra Singh (87) passed away at his Dhanbad’s Hirapur-based residence on Monday evening.
Family members said that his last rites will be performed at Sultanganj Ajgaibinath burning Ghat of Bihar today in the evening. He has left two sons Sanjiv Kumar Singh and Shailesh Kumar Singh (Congress district general secretary) and a widow behind.
Family members said on Monday evening he complained breathing problem. Before the ambulance arrived he died.
Shailendra Singh in politics
A senior leader of the Congress party said that Shailendra Singh was considered a close aide of both former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi in the coal belt. All four times when Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi visited Dhanbad, Shailendra Singh was assigned to receive them.
Also Read- Four Naxals killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur
Shailendra Singh on advice of veteran trade union leader BP Sinha, joined Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Singh (INTUC) and Congress in 1967. He discharged responsibility as senior office bearer in the Bihar Congress Committee and Dhanbad district unit. Besides, he also became a senior office bearer in RCMS and INTUC.
Who is Shailendra Singh?
Shailendra Singh belonged to Begusarai district of Bihar and settled permanently in Dhanbad in 1955. He was also the owner of East Mandra Colliery and Khash Matigarha Colliery of Katras.
He was a diploma holder from Bhaga Mining College Dhanbad and engaged in the welfare of miners and social activities. His dare-devil social rescue work during the 1984 Sikh riot and 1992 riot in the wake of the Babri Masjid demolition was highly appreciated by all quarters.
Shailendra Singh was the first centurion blood donor of Dhanbad. A senior Congress leader said Singh donated blood more than 150 times at camps and hospitals for needy patients in emergency. The last time he donated blood was in 2002.
Leaders pay tributes
Getting information, former minister Mannan Mallick, district Congress president Santosh Singh, executive president Rashid Raja Ansari, Pankaj Roy, Birendra Kumar, Madusudan Choudhary, Dinesh Singh alias Dungar Singh, Satyadeo Pathak, Vidhan Chandra Roy, Rampravesh Sharma reached his residence and paid Shradhanjali.
