Politics took centre stage at a function held to mark former Punjab Cabinet minister Capt Kanwaljit Singhs first death anniversary at a gurdwara here on Friday. The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leadership,led by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SAD president Sukhbir Badal,took advantage of the large congregation for political mileage. The alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders,however,gave the function a miss,with Chief Parliamentary Secretary Raj Khurana being the lone representative of the saffron party. What surprised the gathering was the speech by SAD general secretary Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa,who recalled the differences between Kanwaljit and Sukhbir. Differences of opinion also prevail between the family members but I still remember that when once Parkash Singh Badal called senior party leaders to express his inability to continue as CM and party chief due to old age and wished to hand over both the responsibilities to some other party leaders,Kanwaljit was the first one to propose Sukhbirs name while endorsing that none other could discharge the duties in a better manner than Sukhbir, Dhindsa said. In his address,Sukhbir called Kanwaljit a Kohinoor diamond,which SAD lost prematurely. He won the public faith and was able to convert the Banur Assembly constituency,a Congress stronghold,into Akali Dals fort, said the Deputy CM. Throwing light on Kanwaljits life,the CM said his contribution to the Sikh community,party and government will always be remembered and he will be a guiding spirit for the entire party. Not only was he a good human being,renowned politician and a leader with mass public base but he was an institution in himself, Badal said,while recalling how Kanwaljit was a troubleshooter for the party. Family,party,government and Punjabis have suffered an irreparable loss but I have lost my closest friend, said the CM. Cabinet ministers Ranjit Singh Brahmpura,Hira Singh Gabria,former SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar,several serving and former MLAs,MPs and other leaders of the SAD also paid rich tributes to Kanwaljit. Kanwaljits son MLA Jasjit Bunny,while proposing vote of thanks,pledged to work for the SAD and the area by following the path of his late father. Kanwaljits widow Sarabjeet Kaur and daughter Manjeet Kaur Dolly were also present.
