Galaxy of leaders attend CM mother’s ‘bhog’

Monday, 31/07/2017

http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=179007&boxid=58708&uid=&dat=2017-07-31

Patiala : A galaxy of leaders including former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh were present on Sunday at the ‘bhog’ ceremony of Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s mother ‘Rajmata’ Mohinder Kaur, who passed away recently.

The New Moti Bagh palace here reverberated with hymns and prayers as thousands of people gathered to pay tributes to Kaur.

Apart from Manmohan Singh, Union minister Vijay Sampla, SAD president and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, were among those who offered the ‘Antim Ardas’.

Other notable personalities who attended the ceremony included Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and AAP MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira.

Religious leaders, ministers of the Punjab Cabinet, Congress MLAs, senior administrative and police officials and citizens from all walks of life participated in the ceremony to bid the final adieu to the ‘Rajmata’.

Religious leaders led the ceremony, marked by a ‘kirtan’.

With the demise of the Rajmata, who passed away on Monday after a prolonged illness, an era has come to an end, members of the erstwhile royal family of Patiala said at the ceremony.

Many recalled her immense contribution to the welfare of refugee girls following the partition of the country in 1947, saying it was her charisma and humanitarian approach that had led then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to entrust her with this important and delicate task. Azad, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, described the Rajmata as a multi-faceted personality, who led an active political life as a Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha member.

Her exemplary contribution to the empowerment of women and in providing succour to the poverty-stricken sections of the society was a source of inspiration to leaders of the modern times, he said. As a person who loved people, Rajmata gave more importance to public concerns than to material gains, said Azad, who also conveyed to Capt Amarinder and his family the condolences of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi.

Paying tributes to Rajmata, Sukhbir Singh Badal said she was a noble soul, and recalled her missionary zeal in serving every section of the society, especially the poorest of the poor, with firm commitment, devotion and dedication.

Khaira said the loss of a mother was an irreplaceable loss as no other human being could replace this relationship. Union Minister of State and Punjab BJP chief Vijay Sampla, while conveying the condolences of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah, said the Rajmata was a pious soul and a great social reformer, who was far ahead of her time.

SGPC chief Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar described her as an ideal mother and a great personality who spent her life for the welfare of the people.

Besides Captain Amarinder Singh, other family members present at the sombre occasion included his wife Preneet Kaur, brother Malwinder Singh and his wife Harpriya Kaur, Rajmata’s daughters Heminder Kaur, son-in-law Kunwar Natwar Singh, Rupinder Kumari and Major Kanwaljit Singh Dhillon, her brothers Gursharan Singh Jaijee and Inderjit Singh Jaijee, grandson Raninder Singh, granddaughters Jai Inder Kaur grand son-in-law Gurpal Singh, Amaninder Kaur and Nirvan Singh and Ramneetinder Kaur and Vivaan Singh, besides Rajmata’s great grandchildren.