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Brought up in Delhi, a product
of the prestigious Shriram College of Commerce [SRCC], Delhi
University, fifty four year old Vijay Goel was born in a traditional
Haryanvi freedom fighter family.
An active participant in the JP Movement, Vijay Goel was imprisoned
for 3-months during Emergency. His father, leading taxation lawyer
Shri Charti Lal Goel, who later on became the Speaker of Delhi
Assembly, was also jailed for 19-months.
The former DUSU-President started his political career as Youth
President, Bharatiya Janata Party, Delhi and scored a 'hat trick' by
winning three consecutive [11th, 12th & 13th] Lok Sabha
Parliamentary elections from Sadar and Chandni Chowk. A multifaceted
and dynamic reformer, grass roots social worker, an activist with
conviction and a crusader of causes close to his heart, the homegown
RSS & ABVP worker has risen from the ranks and got his
leadership training as an NCC cadet and NSS volunteer. A fearless,
concerned leader famous for saving lacs of families from ruin by
getting the "Single Digit Lottery" banned", he was
the first to start holding weekly Janata Adalats in his
constituency.
Impressed with his achievements, former PM Shri Atal Bihari
Vajpayee handpicked Vijay Goel to entrust him with the position of
Union Minister of State responsible for the Prime Minister's Office
and the Planning Commission. Subsequently he took charge of the
Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of
Statistics & Programme Implementation and Ministry of Youth
Affairs & Sports as Union Minister in NDA Government until 2004.
As Sports Minister, he pitched hard to bring the Commonwealth Games
to India.
He played a very active role in various Parliamentary Committees as
Member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee investigating Shares
Scam, Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, Public Accounts
Committee, Committee on Home Affairs and Personal Policy of Central
Para-Military Forces, Committee on Government Assurances, Rules
Committee and Consultative Committee of Urban Development &
Poverty Alleviation, As Chairman,Satyawati College and Governing
Body Member Laxmi Bai College and Motilal Nehru College, Member
Anjuman [Court]-Jamia, Executive Council Member, Finance Committee
Member, besides holding the prestigious position as the University
Court Member, Delhi University for 20-yrs Vijay Goel has made long
lasting contribution in the field of education. He has also been the
Member, Governing Body -AIIMS; Member, TAC-MTNL; Member, MCD and
Member, Advisory Committee-DDA.
A folk and ghazal singer and Tabla player, Vijay Goel was awarded
an honorary doctorate in Literature by the Gurukul Kangri
University, Haridwar. He has received the Global Excellence award
and the prestigious Sur-Sadhna award for his contribution in the
field of Culture, Heritage and Development and has authored 'Delhi:
The Emperor's City' a book on Chandni Chowk released by the Hon'ble
Prime Minister. Vijay Goel is an avid photographer, an exhibition of
his photographs of village life was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Vice
President of India.
The BJP National General Secretary has many achievements to his
credit - ban on lotteries, banning ragging, exposing the fake
mark-sheet racket and fake SC/ST certificate racket in Delhi
University, facelift of Delhi Railway Station, introduction of green
lawns at Red Fort, renovation of MCD schools under School Sudhar
Yojana, installing computers in Urdu and Hindi medium Schools,
improvement of slum areas and running a Mobile Medical Van for the
under-privileged, renovation of Haj Manjil, restoration of Urdu poet
Ghalib's haveli….the list goes on and on. A Dilliwala at heart,
he wrote 'Delhi: The Emperor's City' (a book on Chandni Chowk) and
organized the famous Chandni Chowk Utsav "Chaudahavin ka Chand"
to highlight the Walled City's heritage. He has encouraged
traditional purani Dilli art forms especially Patangbazi by
organizing India's 1st Kite making & flying competition in the
Walled City.
Actively involved in various political, social, cultural and
educational organizations, Vijay Goel is President, Heritage India
Foundation; President, Lok Abhiyan and Founder, The Senior Citizen
Federation. The project closest to 54-yr-old Vijay's heart is his
now famous "Toy-Bank", which has collected over one lac
Toys from affluent schools, RWAs and individuals at its collection
centers in Delhi for distribution amongst underprivileged children.
A paper trader by profession, Goel has also been a national-level
kho-kho and basketball player.
His wife, DU-Lecturer Preeti Goel also assists him in his social
projects. Vijay and Preeti have traveled together widely. |
PRIME
MINISTER'S OFFICE