Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Minister Parvesh Verma paid homage to former Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma on his 82th birth anniversary on Saturday. Verma also conducted a ‘havan’ during a prayer meeting of his late father Sahib Singh Verma. The event saw the presence of several leaders from the Delhi BJP unit, including Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Kapil Mishra and Mohan Singh Bisht etc, who paid homage to the late leader.

Speaking at the prayer meet, the Chief Minister reminisced about her association with Sahib Singh Verma and the impact he had on Delhi’s political landscape. “I feel fortunate to continue the work he left behind. Our responsibility is to take Delhi forward from here,” she said.

Gupta said she shares a brother-sister bond with her Cabinet colleague Parvesh Verma, son of former Chief Minister late Sahib Singh Verma.

Pointing out that it didn’t matter who held the chief minister’s chair, Gupta vowed to fulfil the late BJP leader’s dreams for Delhi together with Parvesh Verma. Gupta said Parvesh Verma could also have been made the chief minister and she a minister, and things would have been just the same for her.

“In Indian society, the elder sister is often entrusted with responsibility first,” Gupta said, welcoming the fact that the “sister” is now the CM of Delhi, while the “brother” is serving as a minister.

Gupta also praised the late leader’s contributions to Delhi’s development and expressed her commitment to carry forward his work. “We will work together like a brother and sister to carry forward the unfinished work of Sahib Singh Verma,” Gupta said, describing the late leader as a guiding force in everyone’s life, including her own.

Recalling an incident, Gupta said when she became the president of Delhi University Students Union (DUSU), Sahib Singh, who was the CM at the time, called her to congratulate and encourage her. Earlier in the day, Gupta took to X to pay tribute to the late CM. “Tributes to former Delhi CM late Sahib Singh Verma on his birth anniversary. His contribution to the service of Delhi and the nation will always be inspiring. He gave a new direction to society with his determination, hard work, and public welfare policies. His dedicated life will continue to inspire us to serve the people and work in national interest,” she posted. Highlighting his father’s vision for long-term development projects, Parvesh Verma said, “We aim to undertake work which will be beneficial not just for five years, but for the next 50 years.”

Remembering his father on the occasion, Verma said the government will complete the latter’s unfinished work in the Delhi. “Nearly three decades ago, Delhi embarked on a transformative path under BJP leadership. However, political conflicts hindered progress. Today, we stand resolute in fulfilling his dream of a Viksit Delhi,” Verma said. Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra echoed similar sentiments, emphasising Sahib Singh Verma’s lasting influence.

Born on March 15, 1943, in Mundka village, Sahib Singh Verma served as the fourth CM of Delhi from February 27, 1996, to October 12, 1998. He passed away on June 30, 2007, at the age of 64.