Chandigarh, June 30
A former speaker and finance minister, Dr Kewal Krishan, passed away this evening. He had suffered a massive heart attack and was rushed to Jalandhar from his native town Mukerian.
In a condolence message, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal described Dr Kewal Krishan as multifaceted personality, true statesman, great patriot and above all fine human being. His outstanding services as a social activist to uplift the downtrodden would be ever remembered by one and all.
President of the PPCC and
leader of the Opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and other senior leaders of the Congress have expressed deep grief over his death.
Congress leaders said they had lost a veteran leader who had remained the backbone of the party for a long time.
Dr Kewal Krishan, who also held the portfolio of local bodies minister, remained committed to the Congress philosophy till his last breath. He was the speaker of the Assembly during the Capt Amarinder Singh government. He represented the Mukerian Vidhan Sabha segment in the state Assembly seven times.
Badal also expressed sympathies with the members of the bereaved family.
Meanwhile, as a mark of respect to Dr Kewal Krishan, the Punjab government declared a holiday in the state and ordered all government offices, state undertakings, corporations and educational institutions throughout the state to remain closed on Tuesday.
Local government, industry and commerce minister Manoranjan Kalia, public relations minister Bikram Singh Majithia said Dr Kewal Krishan was a great visionary and nationalist to the core.
Member Parliament and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said: “He was an institution in himself as he propagated the value-based politics and served the people of Punjab with missionary zeal”.
