New Delhi: Former Haryana chief minister and senior Congress leader Bansi Lal, a zealous enforcer of the Emergency in 1975, died of a cardiac arrest in New Delhi on Tuesday night. He was 79.
Lal, a four-time chief minister, was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences on Monday after he complained of trouble in breathing. He died at around 11.45 pm. The cremation will take place in his village in Bhiwani on Wednesday.
Lal is survived by his son Ranbir Singh Mahendra, a minister in the Haryana government. Lal’s elder son Surendra Singh died in a helicopter crash, which also killed industrialist Om Prakash Jindal last year.
A close confidante of Indira Gandhi and her son Sanjay Gandhi during the Emergency in 1975, Lal will be remembered for his contribution in building a modern Haryana and his political acumen.
Lal and Sanjay were allegedly responsible for various draconian steps during the Emergency, including a plan to cut off power supply to newspaper establishments and close down courts.
Born on 26 August 1927 in Golagarh village in Bhiwani district, Lal studied at the Punjab University Law College Jullundur. He held honorary Doctor of Laws and Doctor of Science degrees.
Haryana's architect
After Haryana was formed in 1966, much of the state's industrial and agricultural development took place thanks to Lal's initiatives.
He is credited with electrifying all villages in the state during his tenure as chief minister in the late sixties and seventies.
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Lal pioneered highway tourism in the state - an idea later adopted by other states.
He was elected to the state Assembly seven times; the first time in 1967.
After he parted company with Congress in 1996, Lal set up the Haryana Vikas Party and his campaign against prohibition propelled him to power in the Assembly polls the same year.
The first order he gave as chief minister was banning liquor in the state.
Indira's confidante
Ironically, he paid the price for prohibition when the Haryana Vikas Party was routed in the 2000 Assembly elections. Lal became the chief minister in 1968, 1972, 1986 and 1996.
He was the Defence Minister from December 21, 1975 to March 24, 1977 and a minister without portfolio in the Union Government from December 1, 1975 to December 20, 1975.
Lal became Railways Minister on December 31, 1984 and later Minister for Transport.
Lal did not contest the Assembly elections in 2005 but his sons Surendra and Ranbir were elected to the Assembly.
The Justice J.C. Verma Commission, which appointed by the Om Prakash Chautala government, Bansi Lal for creating a situation for smuggling of liquor during the 19-month prohibition period in the State between 1996 and 1998
Bansi Lal was part of the famous Lal trio of Haryana that also included Devi Lal and Bhajan Lal.
The Haryana government has declared a holiday on Wednesday and three-day mourning.
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