Punjab’s former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader Surinder Singla passed away on Thursday morning following a major respiratory arrest. Describing as a “personal loss”, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has declared a holiday in the state government offices on Friday as mark of respect.
Singla, also a former Rajya Sabha MP, breathed his last at 6 am at New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) where he was rushed after complaining of breathlessness early morning at 4 am.
75-year-old Singla had been ailing for the last few years and had been residing in Delhi’s Vasant Vihar area. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.
Singla suffered from a pneumonia attack last the previous month and was admitted to AIIMS. He had returned home only about a fortnight ago.
Mourning Singla’s demise, Capt Amarinder described it as a personal loss and a loss for the Congress party.
Capt Amarinder said that he would miss Singla, who made outstanding contribution to the stabilization of the state’s economy as Finance Minister in his previous stint as the Chief Minister.
He also recalled Singla’s development works for his constituency Bathinda saying that the able administrator and economist had left a void in the Congress and in hearts of the people he served.
The Chief Minister extended his heartfelt sympathies for the bereaved family of Singla, whose cremation would be held on Friday at 11.00 am at lodhi Road Crematorium in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, Resident Commissioner of Punjab Bhawan at New Delhi Rakhee Gupta laid a wreath on the body of Surinder Singla on behalf of the Punjab Government.
Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rana Kanwar Pal Singh, also mourning Singla’s demise, said that he was a seasoned politician, who made relentless efforts for the welfare of people especially the unprivileged and poor section of the society.
Punjab Health Minister Brahm Mohindra, expressing grief, said: “I am very sad to know the sudden demise of my former colleague who has worked tirelessly for building the Congress cadre in the state.”