People from all walks of life, including Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and other leaders, on Sunday paid rich tributes to Prof BC Verma — a renowned educationist and father of Punjab’s Chief Secretary Anurag Verma — during the last prayer meeting held at Mata Mansa Devi Complex.

Paying tributes to Prof Verma, Chief Minister Mann said that his contribution to society, especially the academia, can never be forgotten. “After rising from Chalela village, he obtained higher education with his hard work and rendered exemplary services in the field of teaching. Just as the flowers and branches show how strong the tree is, the successful students of a sincere and dedicated teacher and their children tell what kind of rites they have received,” he said.

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Baba Farid Medical University of Health Sciences and Eminent Cardiologist Dr Gurpreet Singh Wander, while paying homage to his teacher Prof Verma, shared memories of his student life saying that he was an ideal teacher who was the role model of the students whose priority has always been the students. Prof Verma always taught the poor and needy students at home for free, he added.

On the occasion, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Deputy Speaker Jai Krishan Singh, Cabinet Ministers Laljit Singh Bhullar and Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Rajya Sabha Member Ashok Mittal, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar, MLAs, former Ministers and former MLAs, DGP Gaurav Yadav, Chief Minister Office’s officials, senior Civil and Police officers and retired officers, lawyers fraternity and representatives of the media besides various political parties, social organizations and secretariat officials and employees were present.