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Hon. Members, it is with profound sorrow I refer to the passing away of our respectable colleague, Shri Chandra Shekhar.

Shri Chandra Shekhar was a sitting Member of the Fourteenth Lok Sabha representing Ballia Parliamentary Constituency of Uttar Pradesh. He was also a Member of the Sixth, Seventh and Ninth to Thirteenth Lok Sabhas from 1979 to 1984 and 1989 to 2004, representing the same Parliamentary Constituency. He was also a Member of the Rajya Sabha for three consecutive terms from 1962 to 1977, representing the State of Uttar Pradesh.

Chandra Shekhar ji was among the country’s most respected political leaders. He was initiated into politics in the early 1950s, inspired by the great socialist leader Acharya Narendra Dev. He came to be known as the “Young Turk” in his early political career because of his principled stand on many important issues on which he held views different from the traditional approach. Indeed, he was a rebel against injustice and discrimination.

An illustrious Parliamentarian with four decades of signal contribution, he played a pro-active role in the parliamentary deliberations. A consummate orator, his speeches in Parliament had a rare force and they reflected his vision of a resurgent India. He was fearless in the expression of his views, but always maintained dignity in his dealings with those who held different political views. His presence and interventions in Parliament during periods of turmoil had quite often helped to restore calm in the House. His was an authentic voice of a conscientious leader and he never compromised with the declining ethical values in public life. The Parliament recognized his illuminating contribution in parliamentary deliberations and conferred on him the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award in 1995.

Shri Chandra Shekhar had the distinction to serve as Prime Minister of India from 10th November, 1990 to 21st June, 1991 and during this period hold several important portfolios. As Prime Minister, he took quite a few pro-people initiatives which showed his enlightened statesmanship and political sagacity.

Shri Chandra Shekhar was the Chairman, Committee on Ethics from 2000 to 2001 and again from 2005 onwards.

A man of strong convictions, he took a principal and uncompromising stand on basic policies. He believed that the common man must be central to the policies and programmes of the Government. He undertook a Padayatra of 4260 kms from Kanyakumari to Rajghat, New Delhi in 1983 to establish rapport with the masses and to understand their problems; and established Bharat Yatra Centres in various States to educate the social and political workers at grass-roots level.

Shri Chandra Shekhar’s life is a saga of courage. A socialist to the core, he was a true secular nationalist and was an icon of the youth. He learnt and practiced politics in an era when ideals were sacrosanct.

Shri Chandra Shekhar was an uncompromising champion of secular and democratic values. He fiercely opposed any deviations from these values, as he believed that these form the very foundations of the Indian nation. He demonstrated his unshakable faith in these values in his life and his active participation in the movement launched by Shri Jayprakash Narayan greatly contributed to its success.

A man of letters, Shri Chandra Shekhar had to his credit publications entitled “Meri Jail Diary” (in Hindi) and “Dynamics of Social Change”. He was the founder Editor and Chairman, Editorial Advisory Board of a weekly, “Young Indian”.

With the passing away of Shri Chandra Shekhar, an eventful era in the political history of the country has come to an end. In his demise the country has lost an eminent Parliamentarian, an able administrator, a statesman and a dedicated Socialist who stood for secularism and a casteless society.

Shri Chandra Shekhar passed away on 8th July, 2007 at New Delhi at the age of 80, after a prolonged illness.