Amit Shah pays tribute to Ram Vilas Paswan on birth anniversary
Synopsis
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on 5 July 2026 paid tribute to late Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan on his birth anniversary, honouring his dedication to the poor and his resistance to the 1975-77 Emergency. Paswan, LJP founder and long-time NDA ally, served as a Union Minister until his death in 2020.
Key Takeaways
Amit Shah posted a tribute to Ram Vilas Paswan on his birth anniversary, 5 July 2026 .
Shah highlighted Paswan's lifelong commitment to the welfare of the poor and his resistance during the 1975–77 Emergency .
Ram Vilas Paswan was the founder of the Lok Janshakti Party and a long-serving Union Minister in NDA governments from 1999 to 2020 .
The tribute reinforces the BJP's narrative framing the Emergency as an assault on democratic rights by the Congress.
The post is part of the BJP leadership's broader outreach to Scheduled Caste voters in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh .
Paswan's political legacy continues through his son Chirag Paswan and the LJP's presence in Bihar politics.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday, 5 July 2026, paid tribute to the late Dalit leader and Lok Janshakti Party founder Ram Vilas Paswan on his birth anniversary, honouring his lifelong commitment to the welfare of the poor and his resistance to the 1975–77 Emergency.
Context
In his post, Shah wrote: 'Ramvilas Paswan ji ka pura jeevan gareebon ke kalyan ke liye samarpit raha' — 'The entire life of Ram Vilas Paswan ji was dedicated to the welfare of the poor.' He further noted that during the Emergency, Paswan endured prolonged struggle and great hardships to protect democratic values and civil rights. Shah offered his 'koti-koti naman' — deepest salutations — to Paswan on his birth anniversary.
Ram Vilas Paswan, born on 5 July 1946 in Bihar, was one of India's most prominent Dalit political figures. He represented the Hajipur constituency in the Lok Sabha across multiple terms, setting a record margin of victory in 1984. He passed away in October 2020.
Policy Backdrop
Paswan founded the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) in 2000 and became a long-standing ally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). He served as a Union Minister in the Vajpayee government from 1999 to 2004 and later held the portfolio of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in the Modi government from 2014 until his death in 2020.
His imprisonment and resistance during the 1975–77 Emergency — the 21-month period during which civil liberties were suspended under then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi — became a defining chapter of his political identity. Opposition leaders across parties, including Paswan, faced detention and hardship during this period.
Stakeholders and Impact
The tribute carries significance for Dalit communities across Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where Paswan remains a revered symbol of political assertion and social justice. The BJP leadership's public commemoration of Dalit icons on birth anniversaries is part of a broader outreach to consolidate support among Scheduled Caste voters in these electorally critical states.
The post also reinforces the established NDA narrative that frames the Emergency era as an assault on democratic rights — a framing that the BJP has consistently deployed to contrast its governance record with that of the Congress. Paswan's legacy remains politically alive through his son Chirag Paswan and the LJP's continued role in Bihar politics.
What's Next
Tributes from senior BJP leaders on Paswan's birth anniversary are expected to be accompanied by events organised by the LJP in Bihar, where the party retains a significant presence among Dalit voters. The anniversary also offers an occasion for the NDA to reaffirm its alliance with the Paswan political legacy ahead of any future electoral cycles in the state. How Chirag Paswan and the LJP engage with these commemorations will signal the health of the broader NDA coalition in Bihar.
Point of View
Two threads the party has woven together consistently. By emphasising Paswan's suffering under the Emergency, the post links his legacy to a Congress-era democratic failure, keeping that historical contrast alive in public discourse. For the NDA, commemorating Paswan also serves as an implicit endorsement of the alliance with the LJP, signalling continuity and loyalty to the Paswan family's political constituency in Bihar. The tribute is as much about the future of NDA coalition management in Bihar as it is about honouring the past.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Ram Vilas Paswan?
Ram Vilas Paswan was a prominent Dalit leader from Bihar , founder of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) , and a long-serving Union Minister who held portfolios in multiple governments including the Vajpayee and Modi cabinets. He passed away in October 2020 .
Why is Ram Vilas Paswan's birth anniversary significant?
Ram Vilas Paswan was born on 5 July 1946 . His birth anniversary is observed as an occasion to honour his contributions to Dalit political empowerment, welfare of the poor, and his resistance to the 1975–77 Emergency .
What did Amit Shah say about Ram Vilas Paswan?
Amit Shah stated that Paswan's entire life was dedicated to the welfare of the poor, that he endured great hardships to protect democratic values and civil rights during the Emergency, and that his contribution to democracy and nation-building would always be a source of inspiration.
What was Ram Vilas Paswan's role during the Emergency?
During the 1975–77 Emergency , when civil liberties were suspended across India, Ram Vilas Paswan resisted the authoritarian measures and faced imprisonment and hardships in defence of democratic rights — a period that shaped his political identity.
What is the Lok Janshakti Party's current status?
The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) , founded by Ram Vilas Paswan in 2000 , remains active in Bihar politics as part of the NDA. After Paswan's death in 2020, the party experienced internal splits, with his son Chirag Paswan leading a significant faction.
