NEW DELHI, Dec 5: The opening day of the Winter Session of Parliament today saw the Lok Sabha adjourned for the day after the House paid tributes to one sitting member and seven former members, who passed away during the inter-session.
As soon as the House assembled for the day, Speaker Meira Kumar read out obituary references and expressed deep grief over the loss of life in natural calamities, terrorist attacks and accidents that took place during the period.
The House first paid tributes to sitting member Murarilal Singh, who died yesterday at Raipur in Chhattisgarh at the age of 61.
The member represented Sarguja Lok Sabha constituency of the state. He had been known for his relentless efforts for the welfare of tribals.
The House also remembered the following former members who died during the inter-session: Gurbinder Kaur Brar, a member of the seventh Lok Sabha who passed away on September 7. She had represented Faridkot constituency in Punjab.
RP Sarangi, a member of the sixth and seventh Lok Sabha and elected from Jamshedpur constituency which was part of Bihar then.
He died on September 8 this year.
Mohan Singh, a member of the 10th, 12th and 14th Lok Sabha who represented Deoria constituency of Uttar Pradesh. He passed away on September 22 in New Delhi at the age of 68.
Singh was described as a ‘man of letters’ who had authored several
books on freedom movement and contributed articles in several magazines and dailies. He had been conferred the best Parliamentarian award in 2008.
Ram Naresh Kushwaha, a member of the sixth Lok Sabha, died on October 7 this year. He represented the Salempur constituency of Uttar Pradesh.
Mohan Dharia, a member of the fifth and sixth Lok Sabha, represented Pune constituency in Maharashtra and served as Union Minister holding various portfolios. He passed away on October 14 this year.
Dr Nitish Sengupta, a member of the 13th Lok Sabha, who represented Contai constituency of West Bengal, died on November 3 in New Delhi.
H P Singh, who had been a member of the 12th Lok Sabha, represented Arrah constituency in Bihar. He passed away on November 18.
The Speaker also expressed grief over the loss of 67 lives, including four Indian nationals, in the terrorist attack on Westgate Mall in Nairobi in Kenya that took place in September. Six Indians were also among the injured.
She also mentioned the killing of 61 people in Mumbai building collapse that took place on September 27.
The House also mourned the death of 23 people caused by cyclone Phailin in costal district of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in October. The state also saw 10 people killed in another cyclone Helen in November.
The House also condoled the death of 11 people in a stampede in Ratangarh temple in Madhya Pradesh, killing of seven people in Naxal attack in Aurangabad district of Bihar, death of 42 people due to heavy rains in Andhra Pradesh, death of another 19 persons in
Odisha and devastation caused by super typhoon ‘Haiyan’ in Philippines.
Ms Kumar said, “The House expresses its profound sorrow on these
tragic incidents which have brought pain and suffering to the bereaved families and wishes the injured a speedy recovery.”
She also expressed the House’s full solidarity with the people of Philippines affected by the cyclone.
The House then observed a two-minute silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed.
Earlier, the Speaker welcomed Upper House’s Speaker in Myanmar Parliament U Khin Aung Myint and members of the Parliamentary delegation from the country, seated in the Special Box in the House.
She said India and Myanmar enjoyed age-old ties and shared history, culture and values.
“This visit, I am sure will further strengthen the bonds between our two countries and bring our people closer,” she said. (UNI)
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