Bali to be cremated with state honours
Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, October 30
Senior Congress leader GS Bali (67) passed away in AIIMS, Delhi, early morning today. Sources said that Bali had undergone a kidney transplant at a private hospital in Delhi. He developed postoperative complications and was shifted to AIIMS, where he died.
His last remains were brought in an air ambulance to the Gaggal airport this evening and from there taken to his family house in Kangra. He would be cremated at the Chamundaji temple cremation ground tomorrow. Bali’s body would be kept at the OBC Bhawan in the Nagrota Bagwan Assembly constituency for his supporters to pay their last respects to him.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur expressed condolence over Bali’s death. The Chief Secretary today issued orders that Bali’s funeral would be held with state honours. The Kangra Deputy Commissioner and the SP would represent the government at the cremation.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar also expressed grief over Bali’s demise and prayed to the almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family.
Viplove Thakur, a former Rajya Sabha member, and Leader of the Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri said his death was an irreparable loss to the people of Kangra and the Himachal Congress. Bali’s was elected MLA from the Nagrota Bagwan Assembly constituency on the Congress ticket in 1998. He won four times consequently from the constituency from 1998 to 2017. He was a minister in the Congress government from 2003 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2017. As Transport Minister, he got his personal phone number painted on all HRTC buses, which made him popular in the entire state. He lost the 2017 Assembly election to his former supporter and BJP candidate Arun Kumar.
Bali was known for having good relations with leaders of all parties, bureaucrats and the business community. He built a business empire in the Kangra region comprising Fortis Hospital, hotels and commercial complexes. In Nagrota Bagwan, he is known for helping the needy financially directly or through his charitable society.
