UNION CABINET CONDOLES THE DEATH
OF SHRI MURASOLI MARAN
An emergency meeting
of the Cabinet was held under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister,
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at 7, Race Course Road here today to
condole the death of Union Minister, Shri Murasoli Maran. The
Cabinet decided to have a state funeral for Shri Maran. The members
of the Cabinet stood in silence for two minutes as a mark of respect
and tribute to Shri Murasoli Maran. The meeting also passed the
following resolution expressing its heartfelt condolences : -
"The Union
Cabinet expresses profound sorrow at the demise of Shri Murasoli
Maran in Chennai yesterday. In his passing away, the Cabinet has
lost an experienced and valued colleague, and the nation has lost
an eminent political personality.
He was hospitalized
in November 2000 due to a chest ailment. He recovered partially,
but his health deteriorated again despite best possible treatment
in India and abroad. The calm fortitude with which he waged a
prolonged battle against his illness was truly remarkable.
Shri Maran, a
senior leader of the Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam, was a multifaceted
personality. Born in 1934, he was first elected to the Lok Sabha
in 1967. In his long parliamentary career, he served in the Lok
Sabha for five terms and in the Rajya Sabha for three terms. He
was a Minister for Urban Development in 1989-90. He was the Minister
of Industry in the United Front Government in 1996-98. He rendered
distinguished service as a member of various parliamentary committees.
The Union Cabinet
records with deep appreciation Shri Maran’s contribution as the
Minister of Commerce and Industry in the Government of the National
Democratic Alliance. Under his stewardship, many new reform-oriented
initiatives were launched to boost India’s exports. The most notable
among them was the decision to establish Special Economic Zones
in different parts of the country. His spirited advocacy of the
interests of India and other developing countries at the WTO ministerial
conference in Doha in the year 2000 was a high watermark in his
long service to the nation.
The Cabinet also
notes Shri Maran’s contribution to the defence of democracy –
he was arrested during the Emergency – and to the evolution of
a sound culture of coalition governance in India. He believed
that regional aspirations and a national outlook should be harmonised
and he worked for the actualization of this belief in the NDA
Government.
Despite his active
involvement in politics, Shri Maran also worked in the fields
of journalism, literature, film-making and television. He was
instrumental in the launch of India’s first regional satellite
TV channel.
The Union Cabinet
sends its heartfelt condolences to his wife Smt.Mallika, sons
Shri Kalanidhi and Shri Dayanidhi, and daughter Km. Anbukkarasi".
