“I bow down to his memories”: Yogi Adityanath pays respect to UP’s first CM Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant on his death anniversary

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 7 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday paid tribute to the freedom fighter and first Chief Minister of the state Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant on his death anniversary and said, “I bow down to his memories and pay tribute on behalf of the people of the state.”

Praising his contribution to the freedom struggle of India, he said, “He was a great son of India. He played a significant role in Mahatma Gandhi’s freedom movement. During his administrative and political career, he was the Premier of the United Provinces in 1937.”

“After the death of Sardar Patel, Pant was made the Home Minister in the Union Government. During his tenure (1955-1961), he championed the cause of Hindi as the national language,” the CM Yogi further said in a speech.

“He was awarded the highest civilian award the ‘Bharat Ratna’ for his role in the freedom struggle in 1957,” he further said.

Earlier, in his post on X the Uttar Pradesh CM said “‘Bharat Ratna’ Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant was a great son of Mother India. He played a leading role in the movements launched from time to time for the independence of the country. Humble tribute on his death anniversary today”

Born on September 10, 1887, Pant became the first Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1950. He later served as the Minister of Home Affairs from 1955 till his death in 1961.

As the first Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Pandit Pant is credited with providing a stable government and ensuring communal harmony in the state in the post-Independence years.