Background
Mehr Chand Khanna was born in Peshawar on 1 June 1897 to Karam Chand Khanna, a rich businessman.
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Mehr Chand Khanna
Edit Profilepolitician member of the Lok Sabha
Education
He had his schooling in Peshawar and graduated from Edwardes College, Peshawar. Khanna also graduated in law and practised for a time as a lawyer
Career
He was also the only cabinet minister who was not related to Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan. Khanna served as the Minister of Finance from 1937 to 1939, when Congress ministries all over India resigned in protest against Britain"s declaration of war against Germany. He also served as Minister of Finance in the second Frontier Congress cabinet which ruled from 1945 to 1947.
Khanna was serving as a cabinet minister in the North-West Frontier Province government when the dominion of Pakistan was formed on 14 August 1947.
However, the government was dismissed soon afterwards. In January 1948 Khanna was arrested along with Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan on charges of possessing firearms and lodged in Peshawar jail.
Upon his release Khanna migrated to India and settled down in Delhi. Khanna participated in the Lok Sabha elections in independent India and was elected from the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency.
He served as Minister of Rehabilitation in the Jawaharlal Nehru cabinet from 1954 to 1962.
Being a refugee himself, he is believed to have handled the refugee problem well. From 1954 to 1957, he also handled the law portfolio. During the 1960s, he was also giving the portfolio of housing.
Khanna died on 20 July 1970 in Delhi at the age of 73.
Politics
When the Frontier National Congress captured power in the province in the 1937 elections and Khan Abdul Jabbar Khan became the Premier, Khanna, whose party was in winning alliance, was made the Minister of Finance.
Membership
He served for some time as a member of the Frontier Crimes Regulations Enquiry Committee set up by the Government of India.
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Born
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Died
July 20, 1970 (aged 73) -
Nationality
India -
Political Party
Nationalist Party