House pays homage to Indian workers killed in Iraq

CHANDIGARH: On the first day of the budget session, the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday paid tributes to 39 Indians killed in Iraq, debt-ridden farmers who committed suicide, politicians, freedom fighters and eminent personalities.

The suggestion to pay homage to 39 construction workers, who were abducted by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in 2014 and killed, came from chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

The House also paid tributes to 89 farmers who had committed suicide since the winter session of the state assembly.

Rich tributes were paid to former ministers Ajit Singh Kohar, Sardool Singh Bandala and Manjit Singh Calcutta, besides former MPs Satnam Singh Kainth and Bahadur Singh, who passed away recently.

After the obituary references to 18 prominent personalities, a resolution was passed by voice vote for conveying the condolences of the House to their families. A two-minute silence was observed in the memory of departed souls as a mark of respect.

Other eminent persons to

TRIBUTES WERE ALSO PAID TO 89 FARMERS WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE SINCE THE WINTER SESSION OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY

whom the House paid respects included famous Sufi singer Pyarelal Wadali, Dronacharya awardee wrestler Sukhchain Singh Cheema, actor Shashi Kapoor, singer Sabar Koti and Prof Rajpal Singh.

The House also remembered martyr Naik Amarseer Singh and freedom fighters Jangir Singh, Hardial Singh, Karman Singh, Sham Lal, Kartar Singh and Dalip Singh.

NAMES FOR OBITUARY REFERENCES PROPOSED

Later, parliamentary affairs minister Brahm Mohindra proposed that names of Surjit Kaur, wife of Congress leader Lal Singh, Raghuraj Singh, brother of governor VP Singh Badnore, Mohinder Kaur, mother of the leader of opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Dr Amrit Tewari, mother of former Union minister Manish Tewari, should also be included for obituary references.