CM and Deputy CM pay tribute to Jathedar Giani Tarlochan Singh

Sri Anandpur Sahib (Rupnagar), August 10, 2013: Describing Jathedar Giani Tarlochan Singh as a great personality and an eminent Sikh scholar, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that services rendered by Giani ji for the well being of Sikhism would always act as a 'lighthouse' to inspire the humanity.

Paying floral tributes to Jathedar Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Giani Tarlochan Singh Ji on his Antim Ardaas here at Diwan Hall, the Chief Minister said that with the untimely death of Giani Ji, a huge void has been created in the Sikh Panth that could never be fulfilled in the near future. He said that Jathedar Sahib's entire life was devoted to the cause of humanity in general and that of Sikhism in particular. Recalling the supreme services rendered by Giani Tarlochan Singh, Badal described him as a great Sikh scholar who propagated the tenets of Sikhism in every nook and corner of the world through his religious discourses.

Likewise, the Chief Minister said that Jathedar Sahib spearheaded the campaign against the social maladies like drug addiction, female foeticide and environmental pollution besides playing a pivotal role in sensitising the people against these maladies. Badal also said that Giani Ji spent a major part of his life in Sri Anandpur Sahib during which he played a key role in the development and growth of the entire region. "Giani Ji’s death is a huge personal loss to me as I often consulted him on several religious and social matters" he added.

The Chief Minister said that Giani Ji was an ardent supporter of communal harmony, universal brotherhood and fraternity due to which he was very popular amongst masses and was highly revered by people belonging to all the religions. He said that Giani Ji's family was a panthic family and the state government, SGPC and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) along with the entire Sikh community were solidly behind them. 'Any order given by the family of Jathedar Sahib will be fulfilled by the state government', Badal added.

Paying rich tributes to Jathedar Giani Tarlochan Singh, Deputy Chief Minister and President of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Sukhbir Singh Badal said that untimely death of Giani Ji was a huge loss to the whole Sikh community. He said that in his entire life Giani Tarlochan Singh Ji not only preached the name of God but he also dedicated his life for serving the mankind and humanity. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that due to the untimely death of Giani Tarlochan Singh the whole of the Sikh community was in profound grief and sorrow.

Later on the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister also presented a turban to Advocate Hardev Singh, the son of Jathedar Giani Tarlochan Singh. 

Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Jathedar Akal Takht Sahib Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Jathedar Takht Sri Patna Sahib Giani Iqbal Singh, Head of Sant Samaj Baba Harnam Singh, SGPC President Jathedar Avtar Singh, Cabinet Ministers Surjit Singh Rakhra, Sarwan Singh Phillaur and Madan Mohan Mittal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sohan Singh Thandal and Chaudhary Nand Lal, MLAs Bibi Jagir Kaur, Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema and Surinder Singh Bhullewalrathan, Rajya Sabha MPs Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Avinash Rai Khanna, State BJP President Kamal Sharma, former President Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee Jathedar Avtar Singh Hitt besides several religious leaders and members of SGPC.