Bhubaneswar, Sept. 27 -- New Delhi: Former Defence Minister Jaswant Singh passed away early Sunday, said an official statement from the R&R Hospital here. He was 82.

The former Union Minister was a close aide of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpaee he had handled important portfolios during the late PM's tenure and was a powerful leader of his time.

"Major Jaswant Singh (Retd), former Cabinet Minister, passed away at 6.55 a.m. today. He was admitted on 25 June and was being treated for Sepsis with Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome. He had a cardiac arrest this morning. His Covid status is negative" said the statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of the former minister on Twitter.

"Jaswant Singh Ji will be remem...