Badal pays homage to Tejinderpal Singh on his Bhog and Antim Ardaas

Chandigarh, October 15, 2013: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today described the demise of a son as a 'colossal loss and fatal blow' to any father during his lifetime. These impassioned words of grief were expressed by Badal while paying glowing tributes to late Tejinderpal Singh Soni, the son of the Shiromani  Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Jathedar Avtar Singh adding he said though all the relations have their own significance but the passing away of the son was a tragedy of unfathomed anguish and sorrow beyond anyone's imagination.

Sharing moments of grief at the bhog and antim ardaas of Tejinderpal Singh here at local Singh Sabha gurdwara, Badal said that to give shoulder to the bier of his son was a moment of unbearable agony and profound grief for any unfortunate father, whose son dies in the prime of his youth. The Chief Minister said that though we console someone by relating this tragedy to the 'Order of the Almighty' but in reality it was extremely painful to bear this pain and distress.

Badal further said that Tejinderpal Singh shared the burden of domestic affairs with his father thereby enabling Jathedar Avtar Singh to serve the mankind and Sikh Panth zealously. Jathedar Avtar Singh made concerted efforts for the dissemination of Sikh religion and philosophy not only in the country but also across the globe with utmost dedication and sincerity besides discharging his duties diligently as SGPC Chief. He said in the death of Tejinderpal Singh, a void has been created which was difficult to be filled and now Jathedar Avtar Singh has been burdened with enormous responsibilities. Expressing heartfelt sympathies with the members of the bereaved family, Badal prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and give strength to them to bear this huge loss in this hour of crisis so that Jathedar Avtar Singh could discharge his family obligations and responsibilities besides serving the Sikh Panth with enthusiasm.

Earlier, Badal presented a Dastar (Turban) to the son of laid Tejinderpal Singh.

On the solemn occasion, Jathedar Sri Akal Takhat Sahib Giani Gurbachan Singh also paid homage to Tejinderpal Singh while MLA Ropar and Secretary SAD Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema conducted the proceedings of the stage.

Prominent amongst the thousands of mourners who shared their grief with the bereaved family included Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha Charanjeet Singh Atwal, Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Naresh Gujral (both Rajya Sabha Member), Ajit Singh Kohar, Sikander Singh Maluka, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Sharanjeet Singh Dhillon and Parminder Singh Dhindsa (all Cabinet Ministers), Advisor to the Chief Minister Maheshinder Singh Grewal, President BJP Punjab State Kamal Sharma, Manpreet Singh Iyali, Darshan SinghShivalik and Iqbal Singh Jhunda (all MLAs) besides Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tiwari. www.cityairnews.com