Suraj Bhan, a crusader for Dalits

Senior BJP leader Suraj Bhan, who died here on Sunday, will be remembered as a crusader for the Dalits, having devoted his entire life to the causes of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Born on October 1, 1928 in a poor family in Mehlan Wali village in Yamunanagar, Bhan did his Masters and got a Law degree before doing PhD from Soka University in Japan. Bhan made his entry into politics in 1960 when he commenced his association with Bharatiya Jan Sangh. He represented Ambala parliamentary constituency of Haryana in the 4th, 6th and 11th Lok Sabhas. He also served as Governor of UP, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh.

Bhan is credited with having taken up the issue of clearance of backlog in reservations and other issues concerning the Dalits, SCs and STs.