PM condoles passing away of Sis Ram Ola

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Sunday expressed profound sorrow and grief on the passing away of senior Congress leader and Union Labour and Employment Minister Sis Ram Ola.

"Prime Minister has expressed profound sorrow and grief on the passing away of Sis Ram Ola," PMO said on Twitter.

"Prime Minister has called a special meeting of the Cabinet to pay condolences to Sis Ram Ola," tweet further said.

The 86-year-old Congress leader died at a Gurgaon hospital this morning after a prolonged illness.

A five-time Member of Parliament, Ola represented the Jhunjhunu constituency of Rajasthan.

Born on July 30, 1927, Ola had served eight terms as a Member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from 1957 to 1990 and then from 1993 to 1996.

Between 1980 and 1990, he had served as a Cabinet Minister in the Rajasthan Government, handling various portfolios such as Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, Forests and Environment, Irrigation, Transport, Cooperatives, and Excise.

He was elected to the 11th Lok Sabha in 1996 and served as Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Chemicals and Fertilisers and later for Water Resources.

He was re-elected to the 12th Lok Sabha in 1998, the 13th in 1999 and the 14th in 2004, when he was made Cabinet Minister for Labour and Employment and later for Mines.

He was re-elected to the 15th Lok Sabha in 2009 and in June this year was inducted into the Union Cabinet as Minister for Labour and Employment.

Ola was the recipient of the Padma Shri award in 1968 for social work.