Chandigarh (National Times): The two-day special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha began on a solemn note Thursday, with the House paying rich tributes to several prominent personalities and martyrs who passed away recently. Following the obituary references, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan adjourned the House till 10 AM on Friday.
Tributes to Eminent Personalities and Martyrs
The House observed a moment of silence and passed condolence resolutions in memory of several distinguished figures:
- Dr. Kashmir Singh Sohal, former MLA from Tarn Taran, was remembered for his decades-long contribution to public health and medical administration. He served as a medical officer in the Health Department for over 30 years and was instrumental in the formation of the PCMS Specialists Doctors Association, where he served as the founding state president for more than a decade. He passed away on June 27, 2025.
- Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, a veteran politician and former Union Minister, was also commemorated. Dhindsa, who passed away on May 28, 2025, had held several key positions including Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha), and President of the Shiromani Akali Dal. A recipient of the Padma Bhushan in 2019 — which he later returned during the farmers’ protest — Dhindsa served as Minister for Sports and Chemicals & Fertilisers in the Vajpayee government (2000–2004).
- Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi, an acclaimed scholar and literary critic, was honoured for his monumental contributions to Punjabi, Hindi, and Gurmat literature. Author of numerous research volumes and commentaries on Sikh scriptures, Dr. Jaggi was awarded the Padma Shri in 2023 for his work in literature and education. He passed away on May 22, 2025.
The House also paid tributes to three brave soldiers who laid down their lives in the service of the nation:
- Shaheed Naik Surinder Singh, martyred on February 22, 2024
- Shaheed Lance Naik Baljit Singh, martyred on September 17, 2024
- Shaheed Lance Naik Gurpreet Singh, martyred on May 4, 2024
Condolences Extended for Air Crash Victims and Fashion Designer Sanjay Verma
During the session, AAP Punjab president and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora requested the House to also offer condolences to the victims of the Ahmedabad Airplane Crash, which claimed over 260 lives in what has been termed one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Indian history.
Additionally, a member brought attention to the murder of fashion designer Sanjay Verma, who was killed on July 7, 2025, and requested that his name be included in the obituary list.
House Adjourned Till Friday
After all obituary references and tributes were made, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan adjourned the proceedings until 10 AM on Friday.
The remaining duration of the special session is expected to witness heated debates on pressing issues such as law and order, the drug crisis, land pooling, and the introduction of a new bill related to sacrilege with stricter punishments.
