Dilip Singh Judeo

Dilip Singh Judeo (8 March 1949 – 14 August 2013) was an Indian politician from Chhattisgarh and the Minister of State for Environment and Forests in Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government. He hailed from the erstwhile royal family of Jashpur, and remains a much-loved popular political leader among the tribals of central India.

Judeo was most famous for his nationalistic work and service to Hindu causes. He was responsible for organizing the popular and successful gharvapsi ("homecoming") campaign through which he encouraged and reintroduced thousands of Hindu tribals who had converted to Christianity (under influence of missionaries, often in return for monetary incentives) back into Hinduism.

In November 2003 he was accused of accepting a bribe for mining rights in Chhattisgarh. The accusation was made by The Sunday Express newspaper, which had received a video of the bribe taking place. However, Judeo rejected the allegations, blaming Christian missionaries and the rival Congress party, especially Ajit Jogi of setting up the trap to frame him for corruption. Judeo resigned from his ministerial position on 17 November 2003.

In 2005, the Central Bureau of Investigation told the Indian Supreme Court that the bribe exposé was planned by Amit Jogi, the son of the then Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Ajit Jogi, as a means to derive political mileage in favour of Ajit Jogi in upcoming elections.

Judeo led the BJP to victory in the 2003 Vidhan Sabha Elections and refrained from taking the Chair of Chief Minister of the state despite a wide campaign for the same from the Tribals of Chhattisgarh.

He was Member of Parliament from Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.

On 15 August 2013, he died because of kidney and lung infection.

Rajnath Singh said "I am deeply saddened by the news of Shri Dilip Singh Judeo's sudden demise." Chhattisgarh Governor Shekhar Dutt, and chief minister Raman Singh also lamented.

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