Badal condoles former Punjab speaker's death

Chandigarh, June 30 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today condoled the sad demise of former Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Dr Kewal Krishan who passed away this evening after a massive heart attack while he was being rushed to Jalandhar from his native town Mukerian for medical treatment.

In a condolence message, Mr Badal described Dr Kewal Krishan as a multifaceted personality as he was a true statesman, a great patriot and above all a fine human being. His outstanding services as a social activist to uplift the downtrodden and disadvantaged sections of the society would be ever remembered by one and all.

He also expressed his heart felt sympathies with the members of the bereaved family and prayed to Almighty to give strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss and grant peace to the departed soul.

Meanwhile, as a mark of respect to Dr Kewal Krishan, the Punjab Government tonight declared a holiday and ordered all the Govt.

offices, state undertakings, corporations and educational institutions throughout the state to remain closed on Tuesday.

Local Government, Industry and Commerce Minister Mr Manoranjan Kalia also shared his heartfelt sympathies on the death of Dr Kewal Krishan and said he was a great visionary and nationalist to the core.

Member Parliament and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal also mourned the death of Dr Kewal Krishan and said that he was an institution in himself as he propagated the value based politics and served the people of Punjab with missionary zeal Punjab Information and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia also shared his condolences on the passing away of Dr Kewal Krishan and said he was a man with rare qualities of head and heart and a harbinger of peace, brotherhood and communal harmony.

UNI HS BP2154