Lecture series to honour ex-PM Chandra Shekhar

The Rajya Sabha Secretariat will start a lecture series in the memory of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar.

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar announced this on Tuesday, while paying tributes at his memorial. Dhankhar described the former PM as “one of the greatest sons of Bharat”. He stood for democratic values, recognised as a young Turk to ensure inter-party democracy, he added.

“He was a fearless politician. A politician who always acted like a statesperson. He did not care for his personal liberty and comfort when it came to nationalism and always made us proud,” he stated.

Dhankhar further said, “His political career was unparalleled. A member of Rajya Sabha for 15 years from 1962 to 77, and thereafter a Lok Sabha MP till 2007, except once. He saw all the Prime Ministers till his death.”

Announcing a lecture series in his memory, Dhankhar stated that he had a fortune of becoming an MP alongside him.

“Since Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Harivansh Narayan Singh had worked alongside Chandra Shekhar, we cannot have a more befitting person than him to head the committee,” the Vice-President added.

Recalling his tenure as a Lok Sabha member along with Chandra Shekhar, Dhankhar said, “At that time, the youth came to know about the young Turk, about the fighter for democratic values, and the only senior leader of the ruling party, who was put behind bars during Emergency.”

The Vice-President highlighted that Chandra Shekhar became the prime minister during turbulent times. “I was too junior, but came to know about his ‘spinal strength’ when he found his value system was being compromised. He did not hesitate even for a moment. He gave up the post of Prime Minister.”

Dhankar revealed that in a book, he would give his personal reflections on how a very serious effort was made to stop Chandra Shekhar from announcing his resignation on the floor of the House.

Delhi