Former Punjab assembly Speaker passes away

Chandigarh, June 30 (UNI) Veteran Congress leader and former Punjab Assembly Speaker, Dr Kewal Krishan passed away today after suffering a heart attack.

Dr Kewal Krishan suffered a heart attack at his residence in Mukerian town of Hoshiarpur district. After being administered first aid at Mukerian he was being taken to a hospital in Jalandhar when the end came.

He was 85 years and leaves behind his wife and two sons.

Dr Krishan remained Speaker for two terms, including the one from 2002 to 2007. He also remained Finance Minister of the state in the Cabinet of former Chief Minister, the late Darbara Singh and then again in the Beant Singh government.

He opted not to contest the assembly polls last year citing health reasons. He had represented Mukerian in the assembly on a number of occasions.

Meanwhile Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has condoled the death of Dr Kewal Krishan and expressed his heartfelt sympathises with the bereaved family.

Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, President of the Pujab Pradesh Congress has expressed sense of deep sorrow and grief over the sad and sudden demise of the veteran Congress leader.

She described him as an elderly statesman, a seasoned parliamentarian and an honest Congressman who adhered to the Gandhian philosophy of life till his last breath. During his tenure as Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha and as Finance Minister he left an indelible imprint on the sands of time, she added.

Congress leaders Bir Devinder Singh, Jagmohan Singh Kang and Raj Pal Singh have also conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family.

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