Former minister Ishwar Dass Dhiman dead

Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, November 15

Former Education Minister and MLA from the Bhoranj constituency Ishwar Dass Dhiman passed away at his native village Diyalari near Bhoranj after illness today. He was 82.

The mortal remains were consigned to flames with state honours at the village cremation ground. Leaders from all political parties and people from every section of society thronged to pay tributes to the leader. He is survived by wife, son and two daughters.

Dhiman was first elected to the state Vidhan Sabha in 1989 and remained undefeated and served the constituency for over 29 years and had won six elections consecutively.

Deputy Commissioner Madan Chauhan and Superintendent of Police Ajay Bodh represented the state government while a gun salute was given to the deceased leader. Dr Anil Dhiman, the only son of ID Dhiman, lit the pyre.

Among others present on the occasion included former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, state BJP president Satpal Singh Satti, MP Anurag Thakur, BJP leaders MLA Ravinder Ravi, MLA Virender Kanwar, MLA Vijay Agnihotri, MLA Narender Thakur, Congress leaders and MLAs, including Chief Parliamentary Secretary Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, MLA Sanjay Rattan, APMC Chairman Prem Kaushal, Women Commission member state Promila Devi and Vice-Chairman of the State Disaster Management Authority Rajender Rana.

Guv, Chief Minister condole death  

Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, November 15

Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today expressed grief over the demise of the veteran BJP leader. The Governor conveyed his heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family members and prayed to the Almighty for the peace of the departed soul.

Virbhadra said Dhiman, who also remained a Cabinet minister, was an honest and committed politician who contributed a lot for the development of his Assembly segment and the state as well. Vidhan Sabha Speaker BBL Butail and state Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu also expressed grief over the death of the BJP MLA.

Six-time MLA from the reserved constituency of Bhoranj of the district, Dhiman was born on November 17, 1934, at Diyalari village. He did his MA MEd from Panjab University. He served as a trained graduate teacher (TGT) in the state Education Department for 13 years and as headmaster for 16 years. It was after seeking voluntary retirement that he joined the BJP in July 1989.  Dhiman remained Education Minister in the Dhumal government from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2008 to 2012.