The Hindu : `A young, powerful leader'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 04, 2002

National

National

`A young, powerful leader'

By Our Staff Correspondent

PATNA MARCH 3. The Bihar Governor, V.C. Pandey, the RJD president, Laloo Prasad Yadav, and the Chief Minister, Rabri Devi, today expressed shock over the death of the Lok Sabha Speaker, G.M.C. Balayogi, in a helicopter crash.

The Governor said that Mr. Balayogi's death was an irreparable loss to the country as a young and powerful leader was no more.

The RJD president, in his tribute, expressed sorrow over the death of a budding Dalit leader who had discharged his duties commendably.

Mr. Yadav said he handled the proceedings of the House with unparalleled equanimity and evolved a code of ethics for the members to restore dignity to the House.

Rabri Devi recalled her recent meeting with the Speaker during his visit to Bihar last month and maintained that she found him to be a warm person who treated people without discrimination.

The Bihar Assembly Speaker, Sadanand Singh, and the Chairman of the Legislative Council, Jabir Hussain, too were touched by his modesty.

They recalled his seriousness for making the executive responsible to the legislature.

The Union Minister of State for Coal, Ravi Shanker Prasad, in his condolence message, said Mr. Balayogi always encouraged young MPs, and through his actions he served as a bridge between the north and the south.

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