SIDELIGHTS

Told me that I am his sister, Bhattal

Former CM and Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said when her father, Hira Singh Bhattal, died, Badal was among the first few to reach her home. “He told me that we may be from different political parties, but a daughter of a freedom fighter was our sister. He said he was available in case I needed any help,” Bhattal recalled.

People like him are rare, Gurdas Maan

Punjabi singer Gurdas Maan who reached the SAD office to pay tributes to Parkash Singh Badal, said people like him are rare and take birth once in several years. “He acted like a father figure when my mother had died, and reached our home to pay condolences without announcing,” Maan said.

My father’s brother, says Chautala

Parkash Singh Badal and my father Devi Lal were like real brothers and used to sit together for hours on end, said former Haryana CM Om Parkash Chautala. “When Badal Ji used to come to our home, life used to come to a standstill. My father and Badal ji used to be engrossed in their conversations,” former Haryana CM remembered and termed Badal’s death as a big blow to his family.

Former DGP sat with Sukhbir

A large number of retired and serving officers of the Punjab and civil administration reached SAD headquarters to pay tributes to Badal senior. Former DGP Suresh Arora sat with Sukhbir till the end of the programme.

Grandson stood beside glass casket

Anantbir Singh, son of Sukhbir Singh Badal, stood beside the glass casket in which his grandfather’s body was kept for people to pay tributes. He thanked everyone with folded hands. Sukhbir sat with members of his family and party supporters.