Bir Devinder Singh, former Dy Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, passes away

His last rites will be performed on Monday in Patiala.

Having started out as a leader of the All India Students’ Federation (AISSF), Bir Devinder was elected MLA for the first time from Sirhind in 1980 on a Congress ticket. He later won from the Kharar assembly constituency in 2002. He served as the deputy speaker of the Vidhan Sabha between 2003 and 2004 during the Amarinder Singh-led Congress regime in Punjab. He was expelled from the Congress in 2016 and joined the Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali) in 2019. Leaders cutting across political lines expressed grief over Bir Devinder’s demise.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said Bir Devinder “made a valuable contribution to the development of Punjab while serving in various capacities and his demise has left a void that will be tough to fill”.

ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਸੂਝਵਾਨ ਆਗੂ…ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ ਦੇ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਸਪੀਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਸ.ਬੀਰ ਦਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਅਕਾਲ ਚਲਾਣੇ ਬਾਰੇ ਸੁਣ ਕੇ ਦੁੱਖ ਹੋਇਆ…ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਅੱਗੇ ਅਰਦਾਸ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਵਿੱਛੜੀ ਰੂਹ ਨੂੰ ਚਰਨਾਂ ‘ਚ ਥਾਂ ਦੇਣ ਤੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਭਾਣਾ ਮੰਨਣ ਦਾ ਬਲ਼ ਬਖ਼ਸ਼ਣ…
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ pic.twitter.com/6ugwCMxKTc

— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) June 30, 2023

Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said Bir Devinder “was renowned for his deep knowledge about Punjab, his humility and selfless service”. He was vocal about the issues and his intellectual questioning in the affairs of the state was unparalleled, Warring said. He said Bir Devinder was a man of great acumen and principles who worked dedicatedly for the welfare of the state and its people and was even awarded the best parliamentarian award for his devotion and selfless service.

He will always be remembered for his significant contribution to the All India Sikh Students Federation, he added.

Leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Partap Singh Bajwa said Bir Devinder made significant contributions both as a representative of the Sirhind constituency and during his tenure as the Deputy Speaker. “Bir Devinder was a true patriot and a bold parliamentarian. His name in Punjab politics is synonymous with truth and honesty and will be deeply missed by all who knew him for his legacy of truth, honesty and integrity. I will never forget the time he stood up to corruption in the government, even though it meant putting his career at risk. He was a true hero,” Bajwa tweeted.

Extremely shocked and saddened to hear about the sudden demise of our revered colleague and former Deputy Speaker, Punjab Legislative Assembly, Sardar Bir Devinder Singh. He was a true patriot and a bold parliamentarian who cared a fig risking even his career. His name in Punjab…

— Partap Singh Bajwa (@Partap_Sbajwa) June 30, 2023

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal too expressed grief and offered condolences to the bereaved family.

Harcharan Bains, principal advisor to SAD president, in a Facebook post wrote, “Whatever your views on his politics, he was a remarkable man, brilliant in oratory and (in) his zest for knowledge. Can think of very few who could match his spark and his intellectual energy or his passionate espousal and articulation of Sikh religious narrative, history and heritage”.