Former Haryana CM Bhajan Lal passes away

PTI

Hisar (Haryana), 04 June 2011: Former Haryana Chief Minister and leading Jat leader Bhajan Lal died in a local hospital following a massive heart attack here Friday evening.

Lal’s family sources said the 81-year-old leader suffered a massive heart attack in the afternoon and was rushed to a local hospital.

Even as the family was preparing to shift him to the Medicity in Gurgaon, he suffered another attack and died at 5 pm.

Lok Sabha member from Hisar, Bhajan Lal is survived by his widow Jasma Devi, a former MLA, two sons Chander Mohan, former Deputy Chief Minister, and Kuldeep Bishnoi, (MLA) and a daughter.

The cremation of Bhajan Lal, who was chief minister three times, will take place tomorrow, the sources said.

He had contested the last election as a nominee of Haryana Janhit Congress-BL formed by his younger son Kuldeep Bishnoi after the veteran leader had severed his long association with Congress following the appointment of Bhupinder Singh Hooda as the chief minister for the second time in 2009.

Bhajan Lal was at his sector 15 residence here when he had suffered stroke and was immediately taken to a private hospital for treatment.

RJD leader Lalu Prasad condoled the death Bhajan Lal, describing him as an able leader.

"A good leader has departed from our midst," Yadav told agency on the demise of Bhajan Lal.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda described Lal as a seasoned politician who served the state and society, saying his demise was an irreparable loss to the state.

Expressing grief, Hooda said the state government had declared a three-day state mourning and a public holiday on June 4, 2011.

An official spokesperson said that during the three-day period, the national flag will be flown at half mast throughout the state, adding all functions stand cancelled.

Former Haryana Chief Minister and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) supremo Om Parkash Chautala said Lal was an "active and soft spoken politician."

Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia said Lal was an able parliamentarian and man of the masses.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said Lal’s death will leave a big void in Haryana political circles.

Badal’s son and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Punjab Governor and Administrator UT Chandigarh Shivraj V Patil also expressed grief at his demise.

Patil said Lal was a seasoned politician and good administrator who strived for the uplift of the poor.

O P Dhankar, national president of Kisan Morcha Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), said Lal was an institution in himself.

Meanwhile, President Pratibha Patil also condoled Bhajan’s death even as Congress president Sonia Gandhi said that in his death the nation had lost a senior political leader and an able administrator.

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said that Lal as an agriculture minister two decades back had taken a number of decisions for the welfare of farmers and the growth of agriculture.

Condoling Bhajan’s death, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said in his message that the former chief minister would be remembered for the developmental work he did in Haryana.

Rajasthan governor Shivraj Patil also expressed grief over the demise.