Veteran Akali leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa dead

Former Union Minister and ex-patron of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa breathed his last at a private hospital in Mohali today.

He was 89.

He is survived by his wife Harjit Kaur Dhindsa, two daughters, Mandeep Kaur and Ramandeep Kaur, and a son Parminder Singh Dhindsa, who is a former Punjab Cabinet minister.

Dhindsa had worked with late Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in various capacities for long, including as secretary general of the SAD, and as his closest colleague.

He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2019. However, he returned the award in 2020, supporting kisan andolan.

Dhindsa was born on April 9, 1936, at Ubhawal village near Sangrur. He did his graduation from Government Ranbir College, Sangrur, and became president of the students union of the college.

In 1977, Dhindsa was elected MLA on the ticket of the SAD from Sunam and became Minister of State for Sports, Transport and Education in Parkash Singh Badal’s government. In 1980, he was elected MLA on the SAD ticket from Sangrur, while he became an SAD MLA from Sunam in 1985. In 1997, Dhindsa suffered defeat as SAD candidate from Sunam at the hands of Congress candidate Bhagwan Dass Arora, a former minister.

Dhindsa was made Vice-Chairman of the Punjab State Planning Commission in 1998 by the then CM Parkash Singh Badal and later appointed Chairman of the Punjab State Electricity Board. In 1999, he was elected Member of the Rajya Sabha and remained Cabinet Minister for Sports, Chemicals and Fertlisers in the Vajpayee government from 2000 to 2004.

Dhindsa won the Lok Sabha election from the Sangrur parliamentary constituency in 2004. In 2010 and 2016, Dhindsa was elected Member of the Rajya Sabha from Punjab for two terms. Thus, he performed as a Member of Rajya Sabha from 2010 to 2022. However, due to some differences with the SAD leadership Dhindsa quit the SAD in 2020 and formed SAD (United). Later, he joined the SAD Sudhar Lehar and dissolved his SAD (United).

In December 2024, Dhindsa was awarded “tankah” (religious punishment) by the Akal Takht and performed sewa on the orders of the Akal Takht. Nowadays, he was working for the revival of the SAD.

Mohali: Dhindsa was admitted to a private hospital in Mohali on May 27 in a critical condition. He was suffering from severe pneumonia and cardiac complications, compounded by age-related health issues. He passed away at 5.05 pm due to cardiac arrhythmia and cardiac arrest, the hospital authorities said in a statement.

 CM mourns death

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday mourned the demise of veteran Akali leader and former Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.

In his condolence message, the CM expressed his deep sorrow over the passing away of the leader, acknowledging his relentless efforts for the welfare of people. He extended his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family of the leader.

Punjab