Ram Vilas Paswan a symbol of social justice: PM Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday praised former Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan as a symbol of social justice who was dedicated to public service, as he paid him tributes on his fifth death anniversary.

Modi said he was a popular leader from Bihar who always worked for the welfare of the deprived and exploited communities of society.

"His contribution to politics as well as nation-building will always be remembered," he said.

सामाजिक न्याय के प्रतीक और जनसेवा के प्रति समर्पित बिहार के लोकप्रिय नेता और पूर्व केंद्रीय मंत्री रामविलास पासवान जी को उनकी पुण्यतिथि पर मेरी भावभीनी श्रद्धांजलि। उन्होंने हमेशा समाज के वंचित और शोषित समुदायों के कल्याण के लिए कार्य किया। राजनीति के साथ-साथ राष्ट्र निर्माण के…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 8, 2025

A regional satrap from Bihar who hailed from the Dalit community, Paswan had friends across party lines in a political career spanning over more than five decades during which his sizeable popular support made him a draw for rival political alliances, more so after he quit the Janata Dal and founded the Lok Janshakti Party in 2000.

He left the Congress-led UPA to join hands with the BJP for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and remained a minister in the Modi cabinet till his death.

His son and Lok Sabha MP Chirag Paswan is now a minister in the government and remains an important player in Bihar, where assembly polls will be held next month.