Ranbir Hooda gets B D Gupta Rashtra Gaurav Puruskar

Chandigarh, Nov 6 (UNI) Veteran freedom fighter Ranbir Singh Hooda, the only surviving member of the National Constituent Assembly and father of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, was honoured with " Banarsi Dass Gupta Rashtra Gaurav Puruskar" at Banarsi Dass Gupta Jayanti Samaroh in New Delhi last evening.

As Ch Ranbir Singh was unwell, the award, instituted by the Banarsi Dass Gupta Foundation which carries Rs one lakh in cash, a commendation letter and a shawl, was received by his grand son and Member of Parliament from Rohtak Deepender Singh Hooda from the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

Mr Patil said the award was acknowledgement of the selfless services rendered by Ch Ranbir Singh to the people of the country and wished him long and healthy life.

Stressing the need for strengthening of national unity and integrity, Mr Patil cautioned that some divisive forces were indulging in dividing the society in the name of religion, language, region and caste and the government was determined to foil their such nefarious designs.

He recalled that the era of Mahatama Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru and other national leaders during the freedom struggle was of total commitment and sacrifice and the birth days of great leaders were being celebrated to remind the new generation about such sacrifices and to follow the path shown by these great leaders.

Mr Patil praised Haryana not only for agriculture but also for the progress in other fields like industry and trade.

Haryana Chief MinisterBhupinder Singh, who presided over the function, paid rich tributes to the former Chief Minister late Banarsi Dass Gupta and remarked that despite holding high offices like Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Speaker Vidhan Sabha and MP, Mr Gupta was being remembered as a humble person throughout his life.

Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal, Union Minister of State for Finance Pawan Bansal and Union Minister of State for Coal Santosh Bagrodia also spoke on the occasion.

UNI MA MMS1728