Page 33 - Portraits & Statues in Parliament House

LOK SABHA CHAMBER

VITHALBHAl J. PATEL

(1873—1933)
Great leader with indomitable courage; redoubtable
fighter and a man of great determination; a leading
lawyer, patriot and Philanthropist. First elected
President of the Central Legislative Assembly, 1925.
Re-elected President in 1927. A bold defender of the
rights and privileges of Members. Thwarted Govern-
ment's efforts in the Legislative Assembly to continue
with discussion on the unpopular "Public Safety Bill"
by exercising his casting vote. Wrested from the
Executive the control of security arrangements within
the precincts of the Assembly in 1929-30, Succeeded
in his efforts of creating a separate Office for the
Legislative Assembly, independent of and unconnected
with Government in 1928.

Painted by—C. N. Row.
Donated by—Bombawala.
Unveiled by—G. V. Mavalankar, Speaker of Lok
Sabha, on 8-3-1948.

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