After the death of Ram Vilas Paswan, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday was handed over the additional charge of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution the government said.
“The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has directed that Piyush Goyal, Cabinet Minister, be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, in addition to his existing portfolios,” the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a press release.
Goyal also holds the Commerce and Industry portfolio in the Union cabinet.
Paswan died on Thursday at the age of 74, less than a week after he underwent a heart surgery. The Union minister’s body was taken to his residence in Delhi from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences on Friday.
Paswan’s cremation will take place in Patna on Saturday. Home ministry officials said he will be accorded a state funeral and the national flag will fly at half-mast in Delhi and state capitals as a mark of respect.
