Kiran Choudhry seeks Bharat Ratna for Bansi Lal

Chandigarh, Apr 25 (UNI) Haryana Tourism Minister Kiran Choudhry has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to confer the award of Bharat Ratna on late Chief Minister Bansi Lal, who was known as the 'Architect of Modern Haryana'.

Ms Choudhry is daughter-in-law of Ch Bansi Lal and widow of his late son and former Haryana minister Surender Singh.

In a letter written to the Prime Minister, she said when Haryana was carved out as a separate state, it was backward in almost every sphere. But due to the strenuous efforts made by Ch Bansi Lal and with the liberal financial support of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Haryana became one of the most prosperous state.

Ms Choudhry termed Mr Bansi Lal a man of great visionary and pioneer of all round development of Haryana. ''It was he who provided motorable roads and potable water to every village, irrigation facilities to irrigate the parched land, ensured electrification of all villages besides introducing the concept of lift irrigation schemes and high way tourism.'' She said Mr Bansi Lal's scintillating contribution as Union Minister for Defence and Transport was also well known and acknowledged.

She hoped that keeping in view his immense contribution towards the development of the state his name should be considered for this prestigious award.

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