Former Delhi CM Madan Lal Khurana passes away

www.mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, Oct 28, 2018: Former Chief Minister of Delhi Madan Lal Khurana passed away Saturday in Delhi, his family said. He was 83. His son Harish Khurana, a spokesperson in the Delhi BJP, said the veteran leader passed away at their residence in West Delhi’s Kirti Nagar due to old age-related complications.

“Anguished by the passing away of Shri Madan Lal Khurana Ji. He worked tirelessly for the progress of Delhi, particularly towards ensuring better infrastructure. He distinguished himself as a hardworking and people-friendly administrator, both in the Delhi government and Centre,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on Sunday.

“Shri Madan Lal Khurana Ji will always be remembered for the manner in which he strengthened the BJP in Delhi. He made unwavering efforts towards serving the post-partition refugees in Delhi. My thoughts and solidarity with his family and supporters,” the PM added.

Khurana served as Delhi’s CM between 1993-96. He was popularly known as ‘Delhi ka Sher’ (Lion of Delhi) for his efforts in strengthening BJP in the national capital.

Khurana was the first CM to serve Delhi after the state legislative assembly was reinstated through the 69th Constitution Amendment Act, 1991.

He also served as the Governor of Rajasthan in 2006. The BJP had expelled Khurana following his criticism of L K Advani’s role in the 1999 Kandahar hijack issue.

However, he was brought back to the party in 2008, ahead of assembly elections in Delhi.

Khurana was a part of the Jana Sangh, which later became BJP. A vocal supporter of full statehood for Delhi, Khurana was a strident critic of the relationship between the Centre and state, in terms of the power that the Delhi government had.