Ex-minister, 4-time MLA & Agarwal community’s pride

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, march 6

Mange Ram Gupta, a former Haryana minister, passed away after prolonged illness at his residence in Jind on Friday. He was 85. He was cremated at Jind on Friday afternoon. The cremation was attended among others by Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala.

Gupta is survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters.

Considered the tallest leader of the Agarwal community after former CM Banarasi Dass Gupta, Mange Ram contested the Assembly elections for the first time as an Independent candidate from Jind constituency in 1977 and won by 15,751 votes. He was elected MLA from Jind seat on Congress ticket in 1991, 2000 and 2005.

Old-timers say that he was also known for his short temper as he had a weakness of getting angry at the slightest provocation. “But for his short temper, he could have attained more heights in politics,” feel old timers.

He was also known for raking up controversies at times and would often not retract from his stand after kicking up a row. “He once said something controversial about the Punjabi community which comprises a major chunk of voters in his Jind Assembly segment. Though he suffered politically, he refused to retract his statement. Later, he had to apologise to the community after intervention by the then CM Bhajan Lal,” tell old-timers.

Just before last year’s Assembly poll in Haryana, Gupta along with his son Mahavir Gupta joined Dushyant Chautala’s Jannayak Janta Party on September 30, 2019. Gupta’s son contested the Assembly poll on JJP ticket, but lost to Dr Krishan Middha of the BJP.

Expressing grief over his death, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that he was a leader of the masses and the void created by his death cannot be filled. He has a special contribution in social service along with his political activities, the Chief Minister added.

The Chief Minister expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and also prayed for the peace of the departed soul. Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda also expressed grief at Gupta’s demise and said that the void created by his death would be difficult to fill. “He was a great leader and social worker. He served as minister under me and also on two earlier occasions,” said Hooda.

Dushyant Chautala said Gupta was a pioneer in social service and had a special contribution towards the Agrawal Society.

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