<p>Dilip Singh Judeo, BJP leader and MP from Bilaspur parliamentary constituency in Chhattisgarh died Wednesday after prolonged illness at Medanta Hospital Gurgaon where he was undergoing treatment, a party leader said.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Judeo's condition became critical Wednesday morning and he breathed his last in the evening. He was 64 and is survived by his wife and two sons.<br /><br />He was born in the Jashpur royal family March 8, 1949 and started his political career in 1978 when he became chairman of Jashpur Nagarpalika. In 1988, he won the by-poll from Kharasia assembly seat. He was elected a Lok Sabha member in 1989. From 1992 to 1998, he was a Rajya Sabha member from Chhattisgarh.<br /><br />Judeo, who was minister of state for environment and forests in the Atal Bijari Vajpayee government had to resign in 2003 in the wake of a sting operation that showed him taking a bribe for mining rights in Chhattisgarh.<br /><br />His remarks caught on the tape - "Paisa khuda toh nahi par khuda ki kasam khuda se Kam nahi (money may not be god but is not less than god)" - had gone viral in the media.<br /><br />BJP president Rajnath Singh condoled death of Judeo and said: "He spent his life for the welfare of tribals. In his death, not only has the country lost a political leader but tribal society has lost a worker.<br /><br />Expressing grief over Judeo's demise, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said he was a popular, dedicated and active public representative.<br /><br />Former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi termed his death "a great loss for the state". Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee president Charandas Mahant said he has "lost a great friend".</p>
<p>Dilip Singh Judeo, BJP leader and MP from Bilaspur parliamentary constituency in Chhattisgarh died Wednesday after prolonged illness at Medanta Hospital Gurgaon where he was undergoing treatment, a party leader said.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Judeo's condition became critical Wednesday morning and he breathed his last in the evening. He was 64 and is survived by his wife and two sons.<br /><br />He was born in the Jashpur royal family March 8, 1949 and started his political career in 1978 when he became chairman of Jashpur Nagarpalika. In 1988, he won the by-poll from Kharasia assembly seat. He was elected a Lok Sabha member in 1989. From 1992 to 1998, he was a Rajya Sabha member from Chhattisgarh.<br /><br />Judeo, who was minister of state for environment and forests in the Atal Bijari Vajpayee government had to resign in 2003 in the wake of a sting operation that showed him taking a bribe for mining rights in Chhattisgarh.<br /><br />His remarks caught on the tape - "Paisa khuda toh nahi par khuda ki kasam khuda se Kam nahi (money may not be god but is not less than god)" - had gone viral in the media.<br /><br />BJP president Rajnath Singh condoled death of Judeo and said: "He spent his life for the welfare of tribals. In his death, not only has the country lost a political leader but tribal society has lost a worker.<br /><br />Expressing grief over Judeo's demise, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said he was a popular, dedicated and active public representative.<br /><br />Former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi termed his death "a great loss for the state". Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee president Charandas Mahant said he has "lost a great friend".</p>