NEW DELHI: Seventy six year old veteran Devi Lal, who returns to the government three months after being sacked, has the distinction of serving as deputy prime minister to two arch rivals V P Singh and Chandra Shekhar.

Born on September 25, 1914, at Chautala village in Sirsa, Haryana, Devi Lal began his political career at the age of 16 when he became an active member of the Indian National Congress, then fighting the British for India’s freedom.

Devi Lal, was first elected to the united Punjab legislative assembly in 1952. He was chief parliamentary secretary in the Kairon ministry from 1956 to 57 and was also a member of Punjab assembly from 1959 to 1963. He was also held the posts of president of the Punjab congress for some time and was its vice president from 19591963.

Devi Lal was responsible for the formation of Haryana in 1966 and was a member of the state assembly from 1974 to 1987.

Riding on the crest of the Janata “wave” he became the chief minister of Haryana in June 1977, and continued till 1979. In 1979, he became the leader of the opposition and in 1980 he was elected to the Lok Sabha and continued till 1982.

In 1982, Devi Lal was elected to the state assembly from Meham, He unsuccessfully contested the 1983 Lok Sabha byelection from Sonepat. Again, during the 1984 general election, Devi Lal lost to the Congress I candidate, Mr Daram Pal Singh.

He resigned from the assembly seat along with other Janata Party and Lok Dal members in 1985, in protest against the Rajiv Longowal accord in Punjab calling it an injustice to Haryana.

Before his induction into the union cabinet, Devi Lal was the chief minister of Haryana. He played a crucial role in the formation of the Janata Dal in 1987 and in the launching of the national front, a five party alliance, in 1988,

With the formation of the national front government after the November 1989 elections, Devi Lal was appointed deputy prime minister.

Differences with the Janata Dal leadership over the controversial Meham byelection promoted Devi Lal to resign in March 1990. He, however, withdrew his resignation a couple of days later and averted a major crisis for the national front government.

Later his son Chautala’s reduction as Haryana’s chief minister and the deputy prime minister’s controversial interview to a Bombay weekly prompted demands for Devi Lal’s sacking by several ministers and Janata Dal leaders. He was dismissed in August. But Devi Lal publicly stated he would not wreck the government.

Gandhi for probe

 BIJNORE: The Congress I president, Rajiv Gandhi, has called for a judicial inquiry into the communal riots that recently rocked Bijnore and its adjoining areas,

Talking to reporters here after a daylong visit to the riot hit areas Sunday night, the former prime minister said he was shocked to learn of the harrowing experiences of the affected people.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 16, 1990