Former Tamil Nadu Governor and Punjab Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala, who took over reins of the State in the difficult period when militancy was at its peak in the mid-80s, died on Saturday after a brief illness at the age of 91.
Barnala, who served as Chief Minister from 1985 to 1987, was admitted to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) on Thursday.
A moderate leader of the Akali Dal, he became Chief Minister after the Rajiv-longowal accord to usher in peace in the troubled State was reached in the summer of 1985.
Barnala was admitted to the Cardiac Care Unit of PGI and was shifted this morning to respiratory ICU where he breathed his last.
Barnala as Tamil Nadu Governor had famously refused to recommend dismissal of the DMK Government in 1991 when the late Chandrashekhar was the Prime Minister for a short time.