LUDHIANA, Punjab—Veteran Akali leader and former president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC), Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi passed away here today morning. His death has been confirmed by his family members.
Talwandi passed away at the DMC Heart Care Centre here at 11.10 am. He was 86 years old.
Jathedar Talwandi who is known as “Iron Man” of Akali politics, is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters. He was also a Minister of State in the first non-Congress government in Punjab in 1967. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Ludhiana in 1977. He was elected to the Punjab Assembly in 1967, 1969 and 1972. He also remained as president of SGPC several times.
He was considered as radical leader of Akali Dal and firm supporter of Sikh freedom movement. Panthik Sikhs allege that like Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra, former head of SGPC, he was also harassed mentally by Parkash Badal, who disrespected him on different occasions.
The veteran Akali leader would be cremated at his native village Talwandi, near Raikot, in this district tomorrow, his family said.
Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha, Capt. Amarinder Singh also condoled his death.
In a condolence message, Amarinder said, “With the demise of Jathedar Talwandi, one of the very few surviving leaders of the Akali movement has left us.” He said, “Talwandi, unlike many others, had selflessly served the panth without exploiting his position and power for personal or pecuniary benefits.”
