Lucknow :

UP Assembly was adjourned minutes after the Question Hour when news of the demise of minister of state for parliamentary affairs Chitranjan Swarup was broken by parliamentary affairs minister Mohammad Azam Khan.

Debate was on and Question Hour was about to end when Azam Khan informed the House about Swarup’s demise.

Swarup passed away after a prolonged illness at a hospital in New Delhi on Wednesday. Swarup (69), a three-time MLA from Muzaffarnagar, is survived by wife and three sons.

He was first elected MLA on Congress ticket and then on BSP ticket after which he joined the Samajwadi Party.

Azam Khan recalled his long association with Swarup saying, “He was my associate in the last government as also in this one. He had been a dear friend who made his contribution in setting up of Jauhar University (in Rampur) too.”

Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey also recalled his meetings with Swarup and said he visited his home in Muzaffarnagar to a warm welcome.

Leader of opposition Swami Prasad Maurya, leader of BJP legislature party Suresh Khanna, Congress legislature party leader Pradip Mathur were among others who recalled Swarup’s contribution, especially to the field of education.

A two-minute silence was observed in the honour of the departed soul following which House proceedings were adjourned until Thursday morning.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / August 20th, 2015