Former Haryana Governor Babu Parmanand dies; J

Jammu, Apr 24 (UNI) Former Haryana Governor Babu Parmanand died here today at his residence after a prolonged illness.

He was 75.

''Babu Parmanand expired here this morning at his Gandhi Nagar residence after a prolonged illness,'' an official source said.

His last rites would take place at Shashtri Nagar cremation ground at 1700 hrs, source informed.

The Jammu and Kashmir government, as part of state mourning, declared a holiday for the state government offices and educational institutions. The Tricolour and the flag of Jammu and Kashmir state were also flying at half-mast.

Born on August 10, 1932 in Sarore village of R S Pura sector, Babuji, as he was called by his friends and supporters, was post-graduate in Economics and also completed his LLB in 1958-59.

Inspired by the then Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad to contest the Assembly elections, Babuji contested Assembly elections seven times and won on six times.

In 1996 he resigned from the National Conference and joined the BJP. He had also contested the Parliamentary elections as an independent candidate from Jammu Lok Sabha seat but had lost the battle.

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