Uttar Pradesh minister Chitranjan Swarup passes away

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Chitranjan Swarup passed away after a prolonged illness at a Delhi hospital this morning.

Swarup, 70, was a sitting MLA from Muzaffarnagar.

The Legislative Assembly paid glowing tributes to Swarup, following which the House observed a two-minute silence and was later adjourned for the day.

Parliamentary Affairs minister Azam Khan recalled his long association with Swarup.

"He had been my associate in the last government as well as this one. He had been a personal friend who made contribution in setting up of Jauhar University (in Rampur) also," Khan said.

Leader of opposition Swami Prasad Maurya, leader of BJP legislature party Suresh Khanna, Congress legislature party leader Pradip Mathur were among others who recalled Swarup's services, especially in the field of education.

Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey also recalled his personal association with Swarup.

Meanwhile, the state Legislative Council, which was informed of the Swarup's demise after the Question Hour, also paid tributes to the departed leader and adjourned proceedings for the day.

The information was conveyed by Leader of the House Ahmed Hasan, following which a two-minute silence was observed.

Leaders of all the political parties and chairman Ganesh Shankar Pandey expressed grief and paid tributes to minister Swarup, who held portfolios including Muslim Waqf, Urban Development, Water Supply, Urban Employment & Poverty Alleviation among others.