December 20th 2024.
The city of Chandigarh was left in shock and mourning as the news of the passing of five-time Haryana Chief Minister and Indian National Lok Dal supremo, Om Prakash Chautala, spread like wildfire. The 89-year-old leader suffered a cardiac arrest at his residence in Gurugram on Friday, leaving behind a legacy that will be remembered for years to come.
Om Prakash Chautala, the son of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal, is survived by his two sons - Abhay Singh Chautala and Ajay Singh Chautala. Born on 1 January 1935 in the village of Chautala in Sirsa, he rose to prominence when he became the Chief Minister for the first time on 2 December 1989.
The former Haryana Chief Minister took his last breath at around 12 noon in Medanta hospital, where he was undergoing treatment for the last three to four years due to difficulty in breathing. Despite all efforts, he could not be saved when he was brought to the emergency ward of the hospital after his health suddenly deteriorated.
Abhay Singh Chautala, a former MLA from the Ellenabad constituency, has also held the position of Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Legislative Assembly from October 2014 to March 2019. Chautala's great-grandson, Dushyant Chautala, also made a name for himself as the Deputy Chief Minister in the previous BJP-led government in Haryana.
In 2021, Chautala was released prematurely after the Delhi government passed an order granting a six-month special remission to prisoners who had served nine-and-a-half years of their 10-year sentence. Having already served nine years and nine months, he became eligible for release.
However, in 2013, Chautala and his son Ajay were sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of corruption in a teacher recruitment scam. The special CBI judge, Vinod Kumar, showed no leniency towards the 78-year-old leader and his 51-year-old son as he handed out the punishment. The court had held father and son, along with 53 others, guilty of illegally recruiting 3,206 teachers in the state in 2000.
The news of Chautala's passing has left a void in the political landscape of Haryana. His contributions to the state and his unwavering dedication to serving the people will always be remembered with fondness and respect. May his soul rest in peace.
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