Kamal Nath
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| Kamal Nath | |
.jpg/225px-Kamal_Nath_(cropped).jpg) Nath at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, 2007 |
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| Constituency | Chhindwara |
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| Born | 18 November 1946 Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh |
| Political party | INC |
| Spouse | Alka Nath |
| Children | 2 sons |
| Residence | Chhindwara |
| As of September 22, 2006 Source: [1] |
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Shri Kamal Nath (born 18 November 1946) is an Indian politician and the current Union Cabinet Minister of Commerce and Industry. He is a member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India. He represents the Chhindwara constituency of Madhya Pradesh and is a member of the Indian National Congress (INC) political party.[1]
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[edit] Career
He is an alumnus of The Doon School[citation needed] and a graduate of St. Xavier's College, Calcutta.[1]
Kamal Nath was elected to the 7th Lok Sabha in 1980. He was re-elected to the 8th Lok Sabha in 1985, the 9th Lok Sabha in 1989, and the 10th Lok Sabha in 1991. He served as Union Minister of State for the Environment and Forests (Independent Charge) from 1991 to 1995, then as Union Minister of State for Textiles (Independent Charge) from 1995 to 1996. He was elected to the 12th Lok Sabha in 1998 and the 13th Lok Sabha in 1999. From 2001 to 2004, he was the General Secretary of the INC. He was re-elected to the 14th Lok Sabha in the 2004 election and has served as Union Cabinet Minister of Commerce & Industry since May 23, 2004.[1]
[edit] Controversies
Numerous human rights organizations detail how in November of 1984, Kamal Nath led a mob of 4,000 people that attacked and destroyed the Sikh house of worship Gurudwara Rakab Ganj in New Delhi. Several Sikhs were burned alive during the attack.[2]
Kamal Nath was embroiled in a controversy when the Supreme Court in March 2002, applying the polluter pays principle, imposed a fine of Rs 10,000,000 (US$ 22,500) on Kamal Nath for damaging the environment by building a motel on the bank of river Beas near Kulu-Manali in Himachal Pradesh. The Supreme Court Bench held that Kamal Nath was liable to pay a fine of Rs 10 lakh for causing damage to the sensitive ecology of the area by building Span Motel.
[edit] Awards and recognition
Kamal Nath was named the FDI Personality of the Year 2007 by FDI magazine and Financial Times Business for his "active efforts to attract foreign businesses to India, boost exports, and promote trade and investment".[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Profile at Parliament of India website.
- ^ i-vi
- ^ "fDi Personality of the Year 2007 awards event at New Delhi 31st August 2007.", Indiaprwire.com, August 25, 2007.
