The Madhya Pradesh Assembly on Thursday paid rich tributes to former President APJ Abdul Kalam and other leaders, including ex-parliamentarians and legislators, who passed away recently.
The tributes were paid at the commencement of the daylong special session convened to enable the passage of the Second Supplementary (Special) Budget for providing relief to drought-hit farmers. The session commenced with the bedlam and interruptions by Congress members, but the House continued properly till Chief Minister’s reply.
As soon as the proceedings began, Speaker Sitasharan Sharma mentioned about the demise of Kalam and others following which tributes were paid to them.
The House also paid tributes to former MPs Parasram Bharadwaj, Jagannath Singh, Sukhlal Kushwaha, ex-members Hiralal Malviya, Kaluram Khatik, Mahant Swami Umesh Muni, Dheeraj Singh, Ratan Pataudi, Muniram Sahu and noted singer Ravindra Jain.
Besides, tributes were paid to the victims of Harda train mishap and Petlawad blast. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan described the former President as a selfless karmayogi. He was not merely a scientist but also a nationalist thinker.
He was adored by everyone, especially children. Chouhan recalled his contribution in developing missiles Agni and Prithvi and in conducting the second nuclear test in Pokhran. Congress member Ramniwas Rawat, Bahujan Samaj Party member Satyapraksh Sakhwar and Bharatiya Janata Party member Kailash Vijayvargiya also paid tributes.
A brief silence was observed following which the Speaker adjourned the House for 10 minutes as a mark of respect to the departed.