sign in sign up
<<
Home , Vishwanath Pratap Singh

______∗SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE ______(Proceedings other than Questions and Answers) ______Wednesday, December 10, 2008/Agrahayana19, 1930 (Saka) ______

OBITUARY REFERENCE MR. CHAIRMAN: Hon. Members, I have to refer with profound sorrow to the passing away of Shri , former Prime Minister of . Shri Vishwanath Pratap Singh, who was ailing for quite some time, passed away on the 27th of November, 2008 at the age of 77 years. Born in in June, 1931, Shri Singh had his education at the Allahabad University and Pune University. From his student days, Shri Singh was active in politics and served as the President of the Students' Union of his College in Varanasi and was the Vice-President of Allahabad University Students' Union. He took part in the Bhoodan Movement in 1957 and donated a well-established farm in village Pasna, District Allahabad owned by him. Shri Singh was also the founder of the Gopal Vidyalaya and an Intermediate College at Koraon in Allahabad.

∗ This Synopsis is not an authoritative record of the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha.

139 Shri Singh had a long and illustrious political career that started with the membership of the Legislative Assembly, where he served twice from 1969 to 1971 and then from 1981 to 1983. He was also Member of the Legislative Council of Uttar Pradesh from 1980 to 1981. Shri Singh served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 1980 to 1982. As Chief Minister, he took several steps for the welfare of the people of Uttar Pradesh and also dealt with the menace of dacoits in that State. Shri Singh represented the State of Uttar Pradesh in Rajya Sabha from July 1983 to April 1988 and was Leader of the House from December 1984 to April, 1987. He was also elected to the Fifth, Seventh, Ninth and Tenth . He served as the Union Deputy Minister of Commerce from 1974 to 1976, Minister of State for Commerce from 1976 to 1977, Minister of Commerce with additional charge of the Department of Supply and Industry from 1983 to 1984, Minister of Finance from 1984 to 1987 with additional charge of Commerce and Supply from January 1985 to March 1985; and Minister of Defence from January 1987 to April 1987. Shri Singh occupied the Office of the from December, 1989 to November, 1990 and would always be remembered for his commitment to the realization of social justice. Shri Singh was poet at heart and his first anthology of poems was published under the title 'Ek Tukra Dharti, Ek Tukra Asman'. He was fond of painting and photography and had also held exhibitions of his artwork. In the passing away of Shri Vishwanath Pratap Singh, the country has lost a patriot, a great statesman, a veteran Parliamentarian and an able administrator.

140 (One minute's silence was observed as a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased.) ______REFERENCE TO THE VICTIMS OF BOMB BLASTS IN ASSAM AND TERRORIST ATTACKS IN MUMBAI MR. CHAIRMAN: Hon'ble Members are aware of the serial blasts that occurred in various districts of Assam on 30th October that have killed 89 innocent people and injured 477 others. The city of Mumbai has faced unprecedented and heinous terrorist attacks that have led to the killing of 164 people, including 26 foreign nationals and 18 security personnel, and have injured 308 people. These dastardly attacks have deeply shocked the nation and are aimed at destabilizing the country. Such incidents unite all citizens and strengthen our resolve to continue on our path of national development. The scourge of terrorism must be countered at all levels by the people and the Government. This House salutes the bravery and dedication of security officials and others who have laid down their lives in the line of duty and expresses deepest condolences to the families of those killed and injured in the attacks. (One minute's silence was observed as a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased.)

V.K. AGNIHOTRI, Secretary-General. [email protected]

141