Hindustan Times (Patiala)

HRY CONG LEADER SHAMSHER SINGH SURJEWALA DEAD

- ■ letterschd@hindustant­imes.com

NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH : Veteran Congress leader Shamsher Singh Surjewala died in Delhi on Monday following a prolonged illness. He was 87. Surjewala, father of party leader Randeep Surjewala, breathed his last at the AIIMS hospital in New Delhi this morning.

NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH: Veteran Congress leader Shamsher Singh Surjewala passed away in Delhi on Monday following a prolonged illness. He was 87. Surjewala, father of party leader Randeep Surjewala, breathed his last at the AIIMS hospital in New Delhi this morning, family sources said.

His body was taken from AIIMS to Narwana in Haryana where his cremation was held later in the day. The funeral pyre was lit by his son. Besides Randeep Surjewala, Shamsher is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Haryana Congress president Kumari Selja, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former union minister Chaudhary Birender Singh, former MP Deepender Singh Hooda and several Congress MLAs were present on the occasion.

Shamsher Singh Surjewala was a five-time MLA and had also remained a Rajya Sabha MP from Haryana.

He was also the former president of the Haryana Congress and a four-time minister.

He was president of the Haryana Krishak Samaj and of the All India Kisan Congress, and he fought for the rights of farmers.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited AIIMS and met Randeep Surjewala to convey his condolence­s on Monday morning.

“In the passing of Shri Shamsher Singh Surjewala, we have lost a popular & respected Congressma­n who worked tirelessly in the service of India’s farmers & the developmen­t of Haryana. My condolence­s to his family & friends. Om Shanti,” Gandhi tweeted.

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh said he was saddened by the passing of Shamsher Singh Surjewala. “My thoughts & prayers are with the family in this hour of grief,” he tweeted.

Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Hooda described S S Surjewala, as an able and experience­d leader.

“Deeply pained at the demise of former Haryana Congress chief, former Rajya Sabha MP and former Haryana minister Shamsher Singh Surjewala,” Kumari Selja said. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath have also condoled his demise.

 ?? KESHAV SINGH/HT ?? ■
Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal speaking at the assembly.
KESHAV SINGH/HT ■ Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal speaking at the assembly.
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Shamsher Singh Surjewala
■ Shamsher Singh Surjewala

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