SAD ex-minister Ranjit Balian dies

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, February 17

Ranjit Singh Balian (61) — two-time SAD MLA from Sangrur, former SAD minister, and former chairman of PRTC — died last night at Max Hospital in Mohali. He was under treatment for some infection from many days. His body was shifted to Balian village (near Sangrur) for cremation, which will take place tomorrow.

Karamjit Singh Balian, younger brother of deceased Ranjit Singh Balian, said Ranjit was survived by his wife, a daughter and a son. He said Ranjit’s body would be cremated in Balian village at 12 pm tomorrow as they were waiting for his sister.

Balian became active in politics during his college days. He became an active worker and leader of the Youth Akali Dal after completing his studies in 1977. He was elected MLA from Sangrur in 1985 and then in 1997. He became the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development in Parkash Singh Badal’s cabinet in 1999 but resigned from the ministry and the party on January 11, 2002, when he was denied a party ticket from Sangrur for the Assembly elections. Later, he returned to the SAD fold. He was made the chairman of the PRTC in June 2010 for a term of two years.