Centre to seek information from Haryana on Devi Lal: Dasmunsi

New Delhi, Mar 1: The Centre today assured a large number of Lok Sabha members, who opposed the Haryana government removing the name of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal from two projects, that it would seek information from the state and take all possible steps in the light of their sentiments.

The issue was raised in the House during zero hour by Mr Prabhunath Singh (JD-U), opposing the removal of Mr Devi Lal's name from the Industrial Model Township and a thermal power station at Panipat.

Describing Mr Devi Lal as a freedom fighter and a leader of farmers, Mr Singh said no government should play politics by resorting to such changes in the names of projects, thereby hurting people's sentiments.

There have been several projects in the name of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, he said and clarified that he would not mind if the Centre named some project after Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

Mr Yerran Naidu (TDP), Mr Raghunath Jha (RJD) and several other members from the opposition and treasury benches were also on their feet, seeking to express similar issues in their states.

At this point, JD(U)'s Prabhunath Singh contended that there was unanimity in the House against such changes and as such the Centre should intervene in the matter to restore the name of Mr Devi Lal in the two projects. The power project was inaugurated by President A P J Abdul Kalam, he pointed.

Responding to members' sentiments, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi acknowledged that the late leader Devi Lal was a freedom fighter and a 'kisan' leader.

''I will seek full information from the state government and the Centre will do whatever it could do,'' he said.

UNI