R. L. Bhatia

Raghunanthanlal Bhatia, also known as Raghunandan Lal Bhatia, or R. L. Bhatia (born 3 July 1921) is an Indian political figure. He was the Governor of Kerala from 23 June 2004 to 10 July 2008, and he has been the Governor of Bihar since 10 July 2008.

Bhatia was born in Amritsar, Punjab. His parents were Arooramal Bhatia and Lal Devi Bhatia. He graduated from Punjab University and received an LLB from University at Lahore. He was the President of Students Union.

He was member of Local body of Amritsar for nine years.

Bhatia was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1972 from Amritsar Parliamentary Constituency. He was re-elected to the Lok Sabha from the same constituency at the 1980, 1985, 1992, 1996 and 1999 elections as a member of the Indian National Congress.

He was the Minister of State for External Affairs in the Government of India from July 1992 until 1993.

He was the Chairman of the Committee of petitions in Lok Sabha in 1983.He was also a member of the select committee constituted in 1992 for the amendment of the constitution.

Bhatia has been a member of several consultative committees of Parliament such as Ministry of Home Affairs, Education, Railways, Information & Broadcasting, Law and Justice and Company Affairs.

While a Member of Parliament, Bhatia represented India as a delegate to the United Nations and participated in as a delegate in the 7th NAM summit held in Delhi in March 1983 Common Wealth Heads of Government Meeting in New Delhi in November 1983, Sixth SAARC summit in Colombo in 1991 and the 5th meeting of coordinating countries of the action programme for economic cooperation of non aligned countries held in Delhi in 1986.

He was the President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee 1982-84, General Secretary of AICC 1991.

He was a member of the executive committee of Congress parliamentary party from 1975 to 1977.

Bhatia also has been the member of the India Council for Cultural Relations from 1983 to 1984. He was chairman of the India Bulgaria Friendship Society from 1983 to 1990, and the India GDR (East Germany) friendship Association 1983 to 1990. He was also Co-chairman of All India Peace & Solidarity organization from 1981 to 1983, and the Vice President of Friends of Soviet Union from 1983 to 1984. He visited dozens of other countries around the world as part of his AICC activities.

Following the death of Sikander Bhakt in 2004, Bhatia became Governor of Kerala. After four years in that post, Bhatia was instead appointed as Governor of Bihar on June 26 2008, switching posts with Bihar Governor R. S. Gavai. [ [http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/27/stories/2008062757480100.htm "R.S. Gavai is new Kerala Governor"] , "The Hindu", June 27, 2008.] He was sworn in on July 10 2008. [ [http://www.patnadaily.com/news2008/july/071008/new_governor_sworn_in.html "New Governor R. L. Bhatia Sworn-in"] , PatnaDaily.com, July 10, 2008.]

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