Former Punjab Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon passes away at 79

Considered very close to former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Kahlon was elected MLA from Fatehgarh Churian in 1997 and 2007. Kahlon was the minister for rural development and panchayat in the Akali government from 1997 to 2002. He was also the Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha from 2007 to 2012. He lost the 2012 and 2017 Assembly elections to Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa of the Congress. In this year’s Assembly polls, Akali Dal fielded Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal from Fatehgarh Churian and gave Kahlon’s son Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon the ticket from Dera Baba Nanak. Both lost.

The Vigilance Bureau had earlier booked Kahlon for alleged corruption, fraud, forgery, and criminal conspiracy in the purchase of 103 JCB machines in 2002. He, however, was acquitted in 2013.

The Kahlon family recently courted controversy when Kahlon’s nephew Sandeep Singh Kahlon was booked in Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala’s murder case.

Kahlon was among few leaders from Punjab who had been granted security cover by the Cenre due to threat to his life from Khalistani militants.

Several leaders, including Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring condoled the death of Kahlon.

“Deeply saddened over the demise of Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Vidhan Sabha Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon,” said Mann in a tweet.

Badal said, “Kahlon sahab was a source of inspiration for all of us. His wise counsel will always be missed. I stand with the Kahlon family in this hour of grief.”

Former Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh also expressed grief over the death of Kahlon.

“May Waheguru Ji grant eternal peace to the departed soul. My heartfelt condolences to his family and followers,” said Amarinder in a tweet.

Warring tweeted his “deepest condolences”.