MP Baliram Kashyap passes away

     Raipur/Jagdalpur, March 10, 2011: One of the prominent tribal leaders of the country and the daring BJP MP from Bastar Baliram Kashyap passed away in the wee hours today.

     Kashyap was not keeping well for some time and was admitted to a private hospital here in Raipur, where he breathe his last, officials said.

     Five times MLA under undivided Madhya Pradesh and four times MP, Kashyap was also PWD and Tribal Affairs Minister in Madhya Pradesh.

    As soon as the House met, Speaker Meira Kumar read out the obituary reference and then Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day today after paying tributes to Kashyap.

    Here in Raipur also Chhattisgarh Assembly was adjourned for the day after paying rich tributes to Kashyap, whose son Kedar is the Tribal Affairs and PHE Minister in Raman Singh cabinet.

     Immediately after the house assembled, Speaker Dharam Lal Kaushik informed the house about the death news and members from all political parties, including Speaker, Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh and Leader of Opposition Ravindra Choubey, former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brij Mohan Agrawal, Panchayat Raj Minister Ram Vichar Netam, Women and Child Development Minister Lata Usendi, BSP MLA Saurav Singh, Congress MLAs Ram Pukar Singh, Paresh Bagbahara also paid rich tributes to the departed soul.

     Referring him as Bastar Tiger, Chief Minister said Kashyap was an Iron man in Chhattisgarh politics.

     After hearing the death news, several political leaders, including the Chief Minister and Health Minister Amar Agrawal visited the house of Kedar Kashyap to pay last respect to his father and the Bastar MP.

     Governor Shekhar Dutt also expressed deep sorrow over the death of Kashyap.

     The last rite of the veteran BJP leader was performed at his native place at Pharsaguda near Jagdalpur in the presence of a huge gathering later in the day.