Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav has died after a prolonged spell of illness.He was 82.

The veteran leader - who was being treated at Gurugram's Medanta Hospital - had served as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. He had also served as India's defence minister.

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Mulayam Singh Yadav was admitted to the Gurugram's Medanta Hospital on August 22. He had been tackling health issues over the last few years.

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“My respected father has passed away,” SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, his son, was quoted as saying in a party statement. Tributes started pouring in soon after the news of his death broke.

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“Mulayam Singh Yadav Ji distinguished himself in UP and national politics. He was a key soldier for democracy during the Emergency.

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As Defence Minister, he worked for a stronger India. His Parliamentary interventions were insightful and emphasised on furthering national interest,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in his tweet.

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The last rites of the veteran leader would be held at Saifai, his ancestral village in Uttar Pradesh.

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Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath - who described the death as “irreparable loss” - has said that the last rites of the seasoned politician will be held with full state honours.

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