Former Lok Sabha Speaker Balram Jakhar passes away

Former Lok Sabha Speaker Balram Jakhar passed away in New Delhi. He was 92.
He was elected as the Lok Sabha Speaker for two consecutive terms from 1980 to 1989. As Speaker of Lok Sabha he was instrumental for computerization and automation of Parliamentary works.

About Balram Jakhar

• He was born on 23 August 1923 in Panjkosi, Abohar, Punjab. He was a popular leader who had enriched the Indian Parliamentary democracy in his long political journey.
• He was elected to the Lok Sabha four times and also served as the Union Agriculture Minister in 1991 in then P. V. Narasimha Rao Ministry.
• He was elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly for two terms in 1972 and 1977. He had served as Minister in the state and also Leader of Opposition.
• Mr Jakhar also had served as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh from 2004 to 2009.
• He was the first Asian to be elected as Chairman of Commonwealth Parliamentarian Executive Forum.
• Awards and Honours: Union Government had awarded him with ‘Udyan Pandit’ Award in 1975 for his contribution to Horticulture.

Month: Current Affairs - February, 2016