Veteran Congress leader, freedom fighter and mother of Viplove Thakur, former HPCC president, Sarla Sharma passed away. She was 92. She would be cremated at Dharamshala.
Born on January 13, 1922, Sarla Sharma joined freedom struggle at the age of 19. She worked in various areas assigned to her by the Congress during the freedom struggle. She was jailed during the Quit India Movement in 1942.
In 1957, Sarla Sharma became the member of the Legislative Assembly from Hamirpur in the Punjab Assembly in 1957 and 1962 and Himachal Vidhan Sabha in 1972 and remained Minister of State besides Vice President of Indo-Soviet Cultural Society of Himachal Pradesh. Sarla Sharma was honoured by the President of India for her meritorious services as a freedom fighter on August 9 last year.
Governor Urmila Singh and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh have expressed grief over the sad demise of senior Congress leader.
Urmila Singh in her condolence message said that Sarla Sharma actively participated in freedom movement and contributed a lot for the development of the State. She prayed to the Almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family members to bear the irreparable loss.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in his condolence message said that Sarla Sharma was a true Gandhian and as Minister she propagated the Gandhian philosophy in every nook and corner of the State. He said that contribution made by her for the welfare of women would be remembered for times to come. Her efforts of taking up the matter regarding merger of Hilly areas of Punjab in Himachal would always be remembered. He prayed to the Almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family members to bear the irreparable loss.
Transport Minister G.S. Bali has expressed grief over the demise of Congress leader and veteran freedom fighter. In his condolence message, the Minister said that Sarla Sharma was a great freedom fighter and played a pivotal role in freedom movement. He said that she propagated the Gandhian ideology and while the President of HPCC, she contributed heartedly in strengthening the party.
Brij Bihari Lal Butail, Speaker, H.P. Vidhan Sabha, Vidya Stokes, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Kaul Singh Thakur, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Sujan Singh Pathania, MPP and Power Minister, Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Forest Minister, Mukesh Agnihotri, Industries Minister, Sudhir Sharma, Urban Development Minister, Prakash Chaudhary, Excise and Taxation Minister, Dhani Ram Shandil, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Anil Sharma, Rural Development Minister, Jagat Singh Negi, Deputy Speaker, H.P. Vidhan Sabha, Rajesh Dharmani, Vinay Kumar and Neeraj Bharati, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries have also condoled the death of Sarla Sharma.
