State honours Yashwantrao Chavan, architect of modern Maharashtra

"Chavan always took the right decision without creating any crisis situation," he said adding that the former Deputy Prime Minister could becounted as being in the league of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Govind Pant and C Rajgopalachari.

Speaking on the occasion, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said Chavan always strived for providing education at the grass root level during his tenure as the state’s Chief Minister.

Describing him as an all rounder and a stickler for rules and principles, Deshmukh said the government would give all possible assistance in fulfilling Chavan’s dream of providing education to the masses.

Chavan had thrown open the doors of education to all in the rural sector, initiating the concept of an open university, the Chief Minister said.

Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar, who is also chairman of the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratisthan, said Chavan had always stressed on education for the rural sector. He lauded the government for its decision to set up a network for improved connectivity with the rural sector, which would boost higher education in the state.

Maharashtra Higher Education Minister Dilip Valse-Patil described Chavan as an architect of modern Maharashtra. He announced a grant of Rs two crore for YCMOU on the occasion.

In Mumbai, floral tributes were paid to the former Deputy Prime Minister at the MPCC office. Describing him as the sculptor of Maharashtra, Congress leader R Kadam said the Maratha strongman, through his sacrifices and contribution to Maharashtra politics, had created a niche for himself in the hearts of the people.