Rizak Ram Dahiya

Chaudhary Rizaq Ram or Rizak Ram or Rijak Ram (चौधरी रिजक राम) (Dahiya) (Born: 1912; Death: Oct. 9, 1998) was a prominent Jat leader from Sonipat (Haryana). He hailed from Badkhalsa village in Rai constituency of Sonipat district.

Ch. Rizak Ram was one of the key leaders of united Punjab, who struggled for creation of a separate Haryana state.

Positions in Punjab and Haryana Government

He contested his first assembly election in 1952 in united Punjab from the Rai - राई assembly constituency. He also successfully contested the 1962 assembly elections and remained the Irrigation and Power Minister in united Punjab from 1964 to 1966.

When Haryana was formed on 1 November 1966, he became a minister in the Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Ministry in 1967 but quit owing to some differences with the Chief Minister. He also won Vidhan Sabha elections from Rai constituency in 1967, 1972 and 1977.

In 1977, when he was again elected as a member of Haryana Vidhan Sabha, he became the Irrigation and Power Minister in the Bhajan Lal Cabinet.

As Member of Parliament

Ch. Rizak Ram was a member of Rajya Sabha from 2-8-1968 to 3-2-1970, when he resigned in protest against the reported decision of the Centre to transfer Chandigarh to Punjab.

He was also a member of Seventh Lok Sabha (1983-1984) from Sonipat Constituency.

Association with Arya Samaj and Gurukul institutions

Ch. Rizk Ram was associated with the Hindu Educational Society and Gurukul Matindu in Sonipat district. He was also a life member of the Maharaja Suraj Mal Trust.

Family

Ch. Rizak Ram is survived by two sons and three daughters. His son Jai Tirath Dahiya won Rai Vidhan Sabha seat in Oct. 2014 elections, by a thin majority of only 3 votes! The Election Commission data revealed that 62-year-old Jai Tirath Dahiya (Congress) polled 36,703 votes against 68-year-old Inderjeet Dahiya's (INLD) 36,700.

During October 2019 election, Jai Tirath Dahiya again contested from Rai constituency but could not win.