Deputy CM Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that Senior Akali leader and former president of Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi’s contribution for Sikh Panth, Punjab as well as Punjabiat is enormous and unmatchable. He said this while addressing the gathering while attending the second barsi samagam of Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi at Gurudwara Tahliana Sahib, here today. Thousands of people from all walks of life had attended this function today.Later, the Deputy CM also laid the foundation stone of "Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi College of Professional Studies" at Bassian Kothi, near here. This college is being constructed by the IK Gujral Punjab Technical University.While speaking during the second Barsi Samagam of Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi, Deputy CM Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal said that probably Jathedar Talwandi was the only leader who had served the state socially, politically and even religiously by being the President of Shiromani Akali Dal and Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee besides being a Member of Parliament and MLA of the state assembly. Recalling the outstanding services rendered by Jathedar Talwandi during the landmark agitations like Punjabi Suba, Emergency, Dharam Yudh and others, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the Jathedar Talwandi was a fearless leader who never comprised with the interests of the state and Panth.
Describing Jathedar Talwandi as a decisive leader, Mr. Badal said that he never hesitated to take any bold decision if it was in the interest of Punjab and its people. He said that even in the troublesome periods Jathedar Talwandi led the party from the front to safeguard the interests of the people. He said that Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi was not a person but an institution, who zealously worked for the welfare of poor and underprivileged sections of the society. The Deputy CM said that the life and struggle of Jathedar Talwandi would ever act as a lighthouse for the coming generations to serve the state and the Panth with utmost zeal, sincerity and commitment.Jathedar Talwandi’s elder son and ex MLA Mr Ranjit Singh Talwandi said that SAD was not an ordinary party but it has a glorious saga of supreme sacrifices made by its leaders and workers adding that the life and history of Jathedar Talwandi was a ‘one of the golden pages’ of this saga. He said that Jathedar Talwandi was the torchbearer of SAD, who was source of inspiration for the new brand of Akali leaders about the rich past of the party. He also said that the Shiromani Akali Dal has always stood by its workers. He also thanked all those who attended the second Barsi Samagam and assured everyone that the Talwandi family would continue to serve the Panth and State.
Agriculture Minister Mr Tota Singh said that the trio comprising of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, late Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra and late Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi have struggled a lot and made enormous sacrifices to strengthen the party, due to which the Akalis were enjoying the fruits of power today.Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Dr Charanjit Singh Atwal said that the history would ever remember Jathedar Talwandi as a fearless leader who always led the party from the forefront even in the odd circumstances.Prominent among those present on the occasion included MLA's Mr Manpreet Singh Ayali, Mr S R Kler, Mr Ranjit Singh Dhillon, Mr Mantar Singh Brar, Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board Mr Santa Singh Umedpuri, Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi's wife Bibi Mohinder Kaur, younger son Mr Jagjit Singh Talwandi, ex MP Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal, Punjab Mandi Board Chairman Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, Ludhiana Mayor Mr Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria, former minister Mr Malkit Singh Birmi, Deputy Commissioner Mr Ravi Bhagat, SDM Raikot Miss Kanu Thind, former Nagar Council Raikot president Amandeep Singh Gill, Maharaja Dalip Singh Memorial Trust Secretary Mr Parminder Singh Jatpuri, Youth Akali Dal leader Mr Prabhjot Singh Dhaliwal, besides several others.