Punjab and Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and other leaders cutting across party lines on Wednesday expressed grief and sorrow over the sad demise of veteran Congress leader and former lok Sabha Speaker Balram Jakhar, who passed away at New Delhi Wednesday morning.
In a condolence message, the Chief Minister said that in the death of Balram Jakhar the nation has lost a balanced and an experienced leader, who was an ardent exponent of clean and value based politics besides being an icon of farming community, who ever championed their cause at the highest pedestal. He said Jakhar was a seasoned politician, an able administrator, a true Parliamentarian and above all a fine human being with the rare qualities of head and heart, who served the country in various capacities. Describing death of former Union Minister as a colossal loss to the country in general and a huge ‘personal loss’ particularly, Badal recalled his warm and cordial ties with the Jakhar family since long, which were still persistent even in the second generation.
The Chief Minister called up Congress MlA and son of departed leader Sunil Jakhar over telephone to share his heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family on the death of one of the greatest sons of soil.
Badal declared a holiday in all the Government offices, boards/corporations, public sector undertakings for the rest of the day on Wednesday as a mark of respect to the departed leader and directed the state administration to accord full state honours during Jakhar’s cremation.
Balram Jakhar was elected as MlA to the state assembly in 1972 and remained Deputy Minister of Cooperation, Irrigation and Power. In 1977 he became the leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha during which he was accorded Cabinet rank by the then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
He was elected Member Parliament from Ferozepur in 1980 after which he was elected as lok Sabha Speaker which he continued till 1989, after his election from Sikar (Rajasthan) in 1985. Chaudhary Jakhar was again elected as MP from Sikar in 1992 after which he became Union Agriculture Minister, Government of India. He again represented Bikaner (Rajasthan) lok Sabha segment in 1998 as MP. In 2004 he was appointed the Governor of Madhya Pradesh.
Jakhar has the rare distinction of having been elected unanimously twice to the august office of Speaker lok Sabha in 1980 and 1985. He also earned the rare distinction of being the only Speaker of lok Sabha in Independent India to have presided over two successive lok Sabhas for their full terms from January 1980 to December, 1989.