Veteran SAD leader Talwandi dead - CM, Dy CM to attend cremation at Talwandi Rai village today
Saturday, 20/09/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140920/punjab.htm#8
Ludhiana : Veteran Akali Dal leader Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi, 85, died after a brief illness here today. He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters. Talwandi, who had been ailing for some time and was being treated at Hero DMC Heart Institute since August 20, breathed his last at 11.10 am.
The cremation will take place at Talwandi Rai village, near Raikot, at 11 am tomorrow. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and other leaders would attend the cremation.
Talwandi's son Jagjit Singh Talwandi is an SGPC member. Hiss other son Ranjit Singh Talwandi is a former MLA. Expressing grief, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said he was "a great source of strength to him, the SAD, the Panth and Punjab".
He said: "Throughout his life, Jathedar Talwandi remained a powerful voice of the Khalsa Panth and was rightly known as the 'Loh Pursh'. Steadfast, strong and uncompromising on Panthic principles, Jathedar sahib spearheaded the Khalsa Panth and the SAD in various capacities through troubled times, including the movement for Punjabi Suba, the struggle during the Emergency and Dharam Yudh Morcha." Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal said Talwandi's death was "an irreparable loss to the SAD and the Sikh Panth."
Deputy leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh, PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa, PPP chief Manpreet Badal and Revenue Minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia expressed sympathies with the bereaved family. They said Jathedar Talwandi was known for his strong views, assertiveness and dedication to the Panth.
There was confusion over the time of Talwandi’s death with his family, the district administration and the hospital authorities announced the death separately.
The final announcement was reportedly made after confirmation of Deputy Chief Minister’s presence at his cremation tomorrow. The family and local leaders announced the death at about 7.30 am.
But the administration and the hospital confirmed the death only at 11.10 am.
He was a great source of strength to Punjab, the SAD and the Panth. Steadfast, strong and uncompromising, he was rightly called the 'Loh Pursh'.-Parkash Singh Badal, cm
