Former Union Minister Pt Sukh Ram passes away

Former Union Minister and Congress stalwart Pt Sukh Ram passed away at All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi in the midnight of May 9 and 10, family members confirmed.He was 95.

Anil Sharma, BJP MLA of Mandi Sadar confirmed in a press release issued around 0100 on Wednesday.” I am informing all of you with a very sad heart that our dear Pandit Sukhram ji is no longer in this world,” Sharma said.

Pt Sukh Ram was taken to AIIMS from Mandi Zonal Hospital after he suffered a brain stroke. Sharma said that Pt Sukhram also got a heart attack again at around one o’clock last night at AIIMS in Delhi.

The body of Pandit Sukhram would be brought from Delhi to Mandi by road.  People can have last glimpse of the deceased leader at 11 o’clock tomorrow in Seri Manch and after that his last rites will be performed.

Sharma said that the demise of Pandit Ji is a big loss for the people of Mandi Sadar and the entire state..  He was called the messiah of communication revolution and Chanakya of Himachal Pradesh politics.

Pt Sukh Ram was a great visionionery and shall be remembered for bringing the telecom revolution in Himachal Pradesh.  The contribution that Pandit Sukhram in the development and public life couldn’t be forgotten.

Sukh Ram was the first to have created a third front in the state by forming Himachal Vikas Congress.

He born as the  son of late  Bhav Devon 27th July , 1927 at village Arniana , Distt. Mandi. He was B.A. , LL.B; succeeded by two sons and three daughters. Beside in public life he was Agriculturist. Elected to Pradesh Territorial Council,  Legislative Assembly in 1962 ; re – elected in 1967, 1972, 1974 ( by – election ), 1977 and in 1982 as Congress Candidate and in 1998 and 2003 as Himachal Vikas Congress Candidate ; joined Congress again on 12.4.2004 . Remained Minister in the State Council of Ministers during 1967-72 , 1980-85 and from 24.3.1998 to 07.05.98.

During this period held various portfolios viz. Power, P.W.D. , Agriculture or  Horticulture , Animal Husbandry , Irrigation etc. He was elected to Lok Sabha from Mandi Constituency in 1985 , 1991 and 1996.

He remained Union Minister of State for Defense Production & Supplies , 1985-86 ; Minister of State for Planning (Independent Charge), 1986-88; Minister of State for Food & Civil Supplies , 1988-89 ; Minister of State for Planning & Program Implementation ( Independent Charge ), Minister of State for Non – Conventional Energy Sources, 1992-93; and Minister of State for Communication (Independent Charge), 1993-96.

He was booked by the CBI in Disproportionate asessts case and Telcom scam. He was convicted by the CBI court in the Telcom scam and was currently released on bail on account of old age and health related ailment.