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PUNJAB CABINET ADOPTS CONDOLENCE RESOLUTION TO MOURN
CAPT. KANWALJIT SINGH’S SAD DEMISE

CHANDIGARH MARCH 30, 2009

An emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers which met here today under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal unanimously adopted a resolution to mourn the sad and tragic demise of former Cooperation Minister and SAD General Secretary Capt. Kanwaljit Singh.

The resolution said that the Cabinet expresses deep shock and grief over sudden, untimely and tragic demise of our extremely able, highly admired and beloved colleague Capt. Kanwaljit Singh. Capt. Kanwaljit Singh was not only a leader of Shiromani Akali Dal and Punjab but one of the few visionary and dedicated leaders of the country who were committed to high moral values. His entire life was a saga of sincerity, humbleness and unbounded warmth and affection towards the common masses. Whenever the party was confronted with adversities, Capt. Kanwaljit Singh always firmly stood like a rock as a front liner to steer the party leadership and acted as a beacon for all Punjabis by demonstrating his unflinching strength. Capt. Kanwaljit Singh stood like a strong pillar to save Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiat at the times of emergency, violence and atrocities at the hands of administration and strengthened the Shiromani Akali Dal and Punjab. He always followed the path shown by great Gurus and was committed to the ideals of secularism, love, compassion, communal harmony and unity which always inspired the Shiromani Akali Dal. His unprecedented courage, clarity and high spirit always kept the political atmosphere clean and intact from the onslaught of conspiracies of dirty politics.

His pivotal role in the pro-people development and the bright future of Punjab was not merely restricted to only formulation of programmes and policies but he actually implemented them in the right earnest. Capt’s one of the most remarkable achievements in his life was to strengthen the atmosphere of communal harmony amongst different religious sections in the state. His millions of admirers from and outside Punjab would ever remember his unmatched ability to share everyone’s joys and sorrows in their hearts with his vision par excellence to always shower smiles even in the most difficult situations.
The Cabinet feels deprived of his inconsolable and shocking demise. The meeting offers condolences to their beloved leader for his precision and visionary approach and his valuable services. The Cabinet also prays to the Almighty to give strength and courage to his bereaved family that to was an integral part of the SAD in this hour of gloom and give eternal peace to the departed soul. The Cabinet also joins the sorrow of the innumerable supporters who profusely loved and revered Capt. Kanwaljit Singh and pay floral tributes to the departed soul from the core of their hearts.


SHIROMANI AKALI DAL

Core Committee and Co-coordination committee condoles sad demise of Capt. Kanwaljit Singh

CHANDIGARH MARCH 30: The Core Committee of the SAD and the Co-ordination committee SAD –BJP in a joint meeting held here this afternoon expressed deep shock and grief over the sudden, tragic and untimely demise of Punjab Co-operation Minister and SAD General Secretary Capt. Kanwaljit Singh.

The joint meeting in a resolution described Capt. Singh as a “great political thinker, statesman and multi faced personality who served the Party, Panth and Punjab with utmost dedication and honesty”. His leading role in the overall development of the State and the welfare of all sections of the society would be ever remembered by one and all. Capt. Kanwaljit Singh always stood firmly with the party whenever it was confronted with adversities and demonstrated his unflinching faith and commitment even in the most difficult times. He believed in value based politics and was committed to the ideals of communal harmony, peace, amity and unity which proved to be a guiding force for the Shiromani Akali Dal. His unmatched ability and high character to share every one joys and sorrows and tremendous humility and warmth made him a heartthrob amongst the common masses.

The Shiromani Akali Dal feels divested of an enlightened, seasoned and honest leader for his unprecedented services towards overall development and progress in different spheres . The meeting re-iterates its firm commitment to follow high ideals and examples set by the departed leader which would be a real tribute to him. The meeting prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and strength and courage to the family members to bear this irreparable loss and it fully shares the sorrow and grief of his innumerable friends, admirers and followers.

PUNJAB CM, DEPUTY CM, MAJITHIA AND HARSIMRAT CONDOLES
THE PASSING AWAY OF CAPT. KANWALJIT SINGH

Chandigarh, March 30, 2009

The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal expressed shock and grief over the untimely and tragic demise of Punjab Cooperation Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal General Secretary Capt. Kanwaljit Singh who died in a road accident near Kharar on Sunday.

In a condolence message, the Chief Minister described Capt Kanwaljit Singh as one of the most learned and enlightened leader that the state had ever reproduced, “he was a leader with a great vision, clarity of ideals and stead fastness in his approach,” said Mr. Badal. The Chief Minister said that the tragic demise of such a tall leader was a great personal loss to him and to the Panth, Punjab and Shiromani Akali Dal. He said that the warm and endearing nature of Capt. Singh and his ability and willingness to mix with the masses were qualities that every one of us admired and was inspired by.
Recalling his long association with Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, Mr. Badal said that the latter was always a pillar of strength to him during periods of adversity. He said that Capt Singh was always unflinching in his commitment to the SAD’s ideals of secularism, service of the people, peace and communal harmony in Punjab. He said that void created by the loss of great leader would be extremely difficult to be filled for a long long time.

The Deputy Chief Minister and SAD President Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal described Capt. Kanwaljit Singh as a ‘stalwart par excellence’ and said that Capt Singh was one of the few thinker politicians in the country, He said that Capt Singh’s role as a champion of Punjab’s interest and of the cause of the poor would always be remembered. He said, “as president of SAD, I feel greatly impoverished by the loss of this great leader who had always guided me through my early years of initiation into politics and helped me in a remarkable way in discharging my duties as President of the Party.

Meanwhile, former Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia and Chief Patron of the Nanhi Chaan Trust and the wife of Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Sardarni Harsimrat Kaur Badal also shared their heartfelt sympathies with the members of the bereaved family and described Capt. Kanwaljit Singh as a seasoned politician, able administrator and a fine human being.

CHANDIGARH MARCH 30:

Punjab Chief Minister Mr.Parkash Singh Badal accompanying Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Finance Minister Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal and party's Lok Sabha candidate for Bathinda Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal arrived here from Bathinda by a private hellicopter this morning. On arrival, they drove straight to the residence of Capt Kanwaljit Singh and remained their throughout the day except for 20 minutes break for cabinet meeting. They accompanied the procession from Capt Singh's residence to the Sector 25 cremation ground. Mr.Badal later went to Sector 8 Gurdwara Sahib for the traditional recitation of Gurbani from the holy scripture Shri Guru Granth Sahib ( Alhaunia da path). He will stay in Chandigarh tonight also with the grieved family. At the Gurdwara, the family of Capt Singh said that other programme will be decided in consultation with Mr. Badal, as he is the head of the family.

The ceremony of ‘Anghitha Sambhal’ (collection of ashes) would be performed at 11.00 am on Wednesday i.e. April 1, 2009, according to the family sources.

CAPT. KANAWALJIT SINGH CREMATED WITH FULL STATE HONOURS

CHANDIGARH MARCH 30:

The State bid a tearful adieu to former Cooperation Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal General Secretary Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, who died in a road accident on Sunday, was cremated in local Cremation Grounds where his mortal remains were consigned to flames with full State honours.

A sea of humanity assembled at the Cremation Ground to attend the cremation. Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal accompanied the family members in the funeral van to the cremation ground and the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal along with deceased son Mr. Jasjit Singh Banni shouldered the bier to the cremation site. Prominent amongst others who placed wreaths on the body of Capt.Kanwaljit Singh included the Giani Tarlochan Singh Jathedar Takhat Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Sri Anandpur Sahib, Governor Tamilnaidu Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala, Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, President PPCC Mohinder Singh Kaypee, President State BJP Unit Prof. Rajinder Bhandari, Deputy Speaker Lok Sabha Charanjit Singh Attwal, Member Parliament Patiala Maharani Parneet Kaur, Member Parliament & SAD Secretary General Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Union Minister of State for Finance & Planning Pawan Bansal, Deputy Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha Satpal Gosian, Advocate General Punjab HS Matewal, former Chief Minister Haryana Ch.Bhajan Lal, Senior BJP leader and former Minster Balramji Dass Tandon, Mr.Manjit Singh GK and Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa, President and General Secretary of SAD Delhi State Unit President BSP Punjab Unit Avtar Singh Krimpuri, Secretary CPM Punjab Unit Mangat Ram Pansla, all Cabinet Ministers and Chief Parliamentary Secretaries. Thousands of Capt’s admirers, supporters, leaders and party workers of SAD-BJP and members of the SGPC also attended the cremation. People from different walks of life including the top brass of Civil and Police administration, academicians, legal and journalist fraternity and members of the lower and higher judiciary also attended the funeral of Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, who was a great political thinker, able administrator, and a true statesman.
Meanwhile, the jawans of Punjab Armed Police reversed their arms and bugles were sounded to the last post, the pyre was lit by his son, Mr. Jasjit Singh Banni. A contingent of Sikh Regiment also laid wreath on the body of Capt. Kanwaljit Singh. The Secretary to Punjab Governor Mr. MP Singh also laid the wreath on behalf of Governor Punjab General (Retd.) SF Rodrigues, who was not in the city.

Earlier, the body of the late Cooperation Minister was taken in a procession from his residence in Sector 9 to the cremation ground. The body, draped in the national flag, was kept in flower decked open vehicle which was then taken to allow the general public to have a last glimpse of the departed leader.

On landing at Rajindra Park this morning the Chief Minister along with the Deputy Chief Minister and his wife Chief Patron of Nani Chaan Trust Mrs. Harsimarat Kaur Badal and Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal drove straight to Capt. Kanwaljit Singh’s residence to share their condolences with the members of the bereaved family.
Earlier, the Chief Minister convened an emergency of the Council of Ministers and unanimously adopted a resolution to mourn the sad and tragic demise of former Cooperation Minister and SAD General Secretary Capt. Kanwaljit Singh in Punjab Bhawan. Immediately after the meeting, Mr. Badal along with his cabinet colleagues again rushed to Capt’s residence to join the family members to attend funeral.

The ceremony of ‘Anghitha Sambhal’ (collection of ashes) would be performed at 11.00 am on Wednesday i.e. April 1, 2009, according to the family sources.

It may be recalled that the state Government had already declared a seven-day period of state mourning for the departed leader. As a mark of respect the flags on all government buildings will fly at half mast during the period. All government related functions and celebrations stand cancelled.

PUNJAB CABINET MOURNS TRAGIC DEMISE OF CAPT. KANWALJIT SINGH

CHANDIGARH MARCH 30:

An emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers which met here today under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal deeply mourned the sudden, untimely and tragic demise of former Cooperation Minister and SAD General Secretary Capt. Kanwaljit Singh. “Capt. Kanwaljit Singh was a symbol of integrity, dignity and honesty in public life and the SAD and the Council of Ministers would always be inspired by the high examples set by Capt. Singh in this region,” said a resolution passed at the Cabinet Meeting.

The resolution was moved by the Deputy Chief Minster Mr. Sukhbir singh Badal, expressing deep shock over the tragedy. Paying glowing tributes to the departed leader the resolution described capt. Singh as a visionary and farsighted Statesman. The resolution further said , “ Capt. Kanwaljit Singh was our extremely able, highly admired and beloved colleague and was not only a leader of Shiromani Akali Dal and Punjab but one of the few visionary and dedicated leaders of the country who were committed to high moral values. His entire life was a saga of sincerity, humility and unbounded warmth and affection towards the common masses. Whenever the party was confronted with adversities, Capt. Kanwaljit Singh always firmly stood like a rock as a front liner to steer the party leadership and acted as a beacon for all Punjabis by demonstrating his unflinching strength. Capt. Kanwaljit Singh stood like a strong pillar to save Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiat at the times of emergency, violence and atrocities at the hands of the then administration and strengthened the Shiromani Akali Dal and Punjab. He always followed the path shown by great Gurus and was committed to the ideals of secularism, love, compassion, communal harmony and unity which always inspired the Shiromani Akali Dal. His unprecedented courage, clarity of thought and high spirit always kept the political atmosphere clean and intact from the onslaught of dirty conspiracies of the anti panth and anti Punjab politics.

His pivotal role in the pro-people development and the bright future of Punjab was not merely restricted to only formulation of programmes and policies but also in their implementation. One of Capt. Singh’s most remarkable achievements in his life was to strengthen the atmosphere of piece and communal harmony amongst different religious sections in the state. Millions of his admirers from and outside Punjab would ever remember his unmatched ability to share everyone’s joys and sorrows in their hearts with his vision par excellence to always spread smiles even in the most difficult situations.
The Cabinet feels an acute sense of deprivation in the absence of their outstanding colleague. The meeting paid tributes to the beloved leader for his precision and visionary approach in valuable services, to the Party, Panth and Punjab. The Cabinet described Capt. Kanwaljit Singh’s family as an inseparable organ of the SAD and prayed that the Almighty may give peace to departed soul and strength to the family to bear this irreparable loss. The Cabinet fully shares the sorrow and grief of millions of his admires and followers.