Lucknow, July 7(Reporter) Raja Anand Singh, alias Annu Bhaiya, the father of Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirtivardhan Singh, died here on late Sunday night. Family members said Raja Saheb, 87, was rushed to the hospital in Lucknow when he had trouble breathing. Later, doctors declared him dead. The former UP minister is a four-time MP from Gonda and was elected Member of Parliament for the 1971, 1980, 1984, and 1989 Lok Sabha on a Congress ticket. In 2012, he was elected to the UP assembly from Gaura seat in Gonda on Samajwadi Party symbol. From 2012 to 2017, he was also the Minister of Agriculture in the Uttar Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. He had since retired from politics. His son Kirtivardhan Singh, BJP MP from Gonda, is currently Union Minister of State for External Affairs. The last rites of the leader will be performed at his native place in Mankapur in Gonda this afternoon. Meanwhile, political leaders have expressed their condolences on the death of Raja Anand Singh. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in his message, said the death of the revered father of Union Minister of State Shri Kirtivardhan Singh and former Minister of the Uttar Pradesh Government and former MP Shri Anand Singh ji is very sad. Humble tribute! Prayer to Lord Shri Rama is to give the departed saintly place at his Shri feet and the mournful families to bear this immense sorrow, CM further said. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, in his message, said, "Extremely sad about the death of former minister of the UP government and former MP Gonda Raja Anand Singh ji. "May God give peace to his soul. Deep condolences to the bereaved family," he said...////...