Haryana recommends Bansi Lal's name for 'Bharat Ratna'

Chandigarh, Nov 29 (UNI) The Haryana government has recommended former state Chief Minister Bansi Lal's name for the ''Bharat Ratna.'' A state committee, headed by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has recommended Bansi Lal's name for the prestigious award, Minister of State for Forests and Tourism Kiran Choudhry said today.

Ms Choudhry, who is daughter-in-law of Bansi Lal, said she had recently met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and urged him to posthumously confer the award on the late leader Ch Bansi Lal, she said, was remembered as the ''Architect of Haryana'' for his immense contribution for the development of the state.

During his tenure as Union Defence Minister, Bansi Lal took many new initiatives for the welfare of the Armed Forces, she added.

Ms Choudhry said the Prime Minister also acknowledged the contribution and the role played by the late leader in the development of the state and was ''positive about conferring the award on him.'' She said the Prime Minister was of the view that Ch Bansi Lal always worked for the welfare of the poor and the downtrodden. He always strived for the well being of the people of the state.

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