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Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Monday paid tributes to Akali patriarch and five-time Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, along with more than 300 people who lost their lives in the Odisha train tragedy, among others.
Remembering the prominent personalities, freedom fighters, soldiers who passed away during the intervening period of two sessions, the Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan read out obituary references on behalf of the House.
Other than Badal and train tragedy victims, the House paid tributes to the former minister Chaudhary Swarna Ram, former Deputy Speaker Jaswant Singh, former MLA Rumal Chand, freedom fighter Ujagar Singh, Rajouri sector martyr Havildar Mandeep Singh, and Arjuna awardee Kaur Singh, and Bollywood actor Mangal Dhillon.
International player Kiran Ajit Pal Singh’s name was added in the list after Sports Minister GGurmeet Singgh Meet Hayer proposed the same. The Speaker also allowed to add the names of Kulwant Singh Charik, Sepoy Harkishan Singh, Sewak Singh, Kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambian, ASI Kuldeep Singh, head constable Rajesh Kumar, and Naib Subedar Balbir Singh Rana after the members proposed the same.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also proposed paying tributes to the victims of the Odisha rail tragedy, which was also allowed by the Speaker.
After this, the Speaker moved a resolution for conveying the condolences of the House to their respective families, which was accepted unanimously. A two-minute silence was observed in the memory of departed souls as a mark of respect during the obituary references.