On the opening day of the winter session, Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Monday remembered legendary singer Manna Dey, veteran actor Pran, senior communist leader Comarade Jagjit Singh lyallpuri, Jalandhar-based scribe Jasdeep Malhotra, among 42 people who left for heavenly abode during the inter-session period.
In 25-minute proceedings during the afternoon hours, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal paid rich tributes on the behalf of the entire House, and recalled the services of the former ministers, ex-MPs and MlAs, eminent politicians, freedom fighters, , and others related to the field of performing arts, during the obituary references in the Assembly.
The House eulogised the contributions of Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan Manna Dey, who had died recently owing to long illness, before adjourning for the day. Padma Bhushan awardee Pran’s contribution to Hindi cinema was also remembered who has appeared in over 350 films in his long and prolific career spanning more than six decades. He died on July 12 at the age of 93 after a prolonged illness.
The House also recalled the services of former MPs Gurbinder Kaur, wife of late Chief Minister Harcharan Singh Brar, and also Charanjit Singh Walia, who was known to be famous employees’ leader. Besides, former member of legislative council Balwant Kaur, former MlAs Sarla Devi, Satya Pal Dang, Harish Bedi, Hari Singh Saini, and others.
In addition, at least 22 freedom fighters who died in the interim period between the last meeting of the Assembly and the present Session were also remembered. The names of famous Punjabi Punjabi writer Rajinder Kaur, famous journalist Santokh Singh Tapasvi, famous Punjabi writer Gurdev Singh Rai, were also find mention in the obituary references. In addition, Taksali Akali leader Mohinder Singh Pabat was also paid tributes.
After the Speaker gets through making the obituary references, the State Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia sought inclusion of the name of Jalandhar-based scribe Jasdeep Malhotra, who recently died in a road accident, in the list of persons to whom tributes were paid in the Assembly.
In a precedent of sorts, the Congress MlA Parminder Singh Pinki also urged the Speaker to include the name of Akali MlA Deep Malhotra’s mother Nirmal Malhotra in the obituary list. later, the name of SAD MlA Manpreet Singh Ayali’s father Gurcharanjeet Singh Grewal was also included in the list. Admitting, the Speaker allowed the inclusion of these three names in the list.
leader of the House and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, leader of the Opposition Sunil Kumar Jakhar were present in the Assembly. However, former Chief Ministers and senior Congress leaders Capt Amarinder Singh and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal were conspicuous by their absence.
Before concluding the proceedings for the day, Speaker Atwal asked the House to observe a two-minute silence in the memory of the dead and said: “All of us salute to all freedom fighters with deep respect and feelings. They all will always be remembered in the history of Punjab.”