Hooda pays rich tributes to Banarsi Das Gupta

Chandigarh, Nov 6 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said that all efforts would be made for creating a fully developed Haryana as envisioned by former state Chief Minister Banarsi Das Gupta.

The Chief Minister was presiding over the birth anniversary celebrations of the former Chief Minister organised by Banarsi Dass Gupta Foundation at New Delhi.

Mr Hooda said that since his childhood he had been highly influenced by the ''gracious and dignified'' personality of Mr Gupta. His father Ch Ranbir Singh, who is also the lone surviving member of Constituent Assembly, also had a close association with Mr Gupta, he added.

He said Mr Gupta was a great freedom fighter like his father.

Mr Hooda said on whatever high post Mr Gupta had served, as the Member of Legislative Assembly, Speaker Legislative Assembly or as the Chief Minister, he had always led a simple life and remained connected with the common man.

For over 60 years, Mr Gupta remained politically active with a clean image. Though, Mr. Gupta had a special attachment for Aggarwal Society, yet he belonged to all sections of society, he added.

The Chief Minister congratulated the son of the former Chief Minister, Ajay Gupta for setting up Banarsi Dass Gupta Foundation.

Earlier, the UPA Chairperson and President of All India Congress Committee, Mrs Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the function by lighting the lamp.

On this occasion, Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari conferred the Banarsi Dass Gupta Rashtriya Gaurav Samman instituted by the foundation and presented a cheque of Rs one lakh to veteran follower of Gandhian philosophy Nirmala Deshpande.

The Vice- President also launched a web site to disseminate information about the programmes and policies of Mr Banarsi Dass Gupta.

UNI