Veteran Akali stalwart Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi was cremated with full state honours at his ancestral village Talwandi Rai of Ludhiana district today. Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal and thousands of people from all walks of life had gathered at village Talwandi Rai to bid adieu to Jathedar Talwandi.A contingent of Punjab Police reversed their arms and fired shots in the air as a mark of respect to 85-year-old Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi, commonly termed as "Loh Pursh (iron man)", who passed away after brief illness at Hero DMC Heart Institute, here yesterday.The pyre was lit by Jathedar Talwandi's elder son Mr Ranjit Singh Talwandi (former MLA) in the presence of other family members, including wife Mohinder Kaur, younger son Jathedar Jagjit Singh Talwandi, daughters Manjit Kaur and Harjit Kaur, sons in law Mr Gurdeep Singh Cheema and Mr Amrit Pal Singh Sidhu, grandson Mr Jagteshwar Singh, besides several others.A large crowd comprising villagers and other prominent people including Former SGPC president Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra's daughter Ms Kuldeep Kaur Tohra also attended Jathedar Talwandi's funeral.
While speaking to the media persons, CM Mr Parkash Singh Badal termed Jathedar Talwandi's death as a personal loss. “He was one of the tallest pillars of modern times and a great source of strength to me personally, to the SAD, the Panth and Punjab. Very few men can match his charisma, determination and his courage to speak his mind on issues concerning the people whom he loved and represented," said the CM.Prominent among those present during the cremation included SGPC president Jathedar Avtar Singh, Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Dr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Cabinet Ministers Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Mr Tota Singh, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema and Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, CM's advisor Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, MP's Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra and Mr Ravneet Singh Bittu, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sant Balbir Singh Ghunas, MLA's Mr S R Kler, Mr Manpreet Singh Ayali, Mr Darshan Singh Shivalik, Mr Sarwan Singh Phillaur and Mr Mohammad Sadiq, Punjab Subordinate Services Board chairman Mr Santa Singh Umedpuri, Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, former MP Mrs Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar and Mr Sukhdev Singh Libra, former ministers Captain Balbir Singh Baath, Mr Malkit Singh Birmi, Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Mr Mohd Ikram Khan Bagge, Mr Hira Singh Gabria, Mr Ishar Singh Meharban, former MLA's Mr Harish Rai Dhanda, Mr Jagdev Singh Jassowal, Mr Bhag Singh Mallah, Mr Gaganjit Singh Barnala, Mr Harmohinder Singh Pardhan, Mr Talib Singh Sandhu, Mr Bikramjit Singh Khalsa and Mr Jagjiwan Singh Khirnia, Mayor Mr Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria, SGPC members Bhai Gurcharan Singh Grewal, Jathedar Kewal Singh Badal, Jathedar Raghbir Singh Saharanmajra, Jathedar Charan Singh Alamgir, senior BJP leader Mr Rajinder Bhandari, senior Youth Akali Dal leader Mr Prabhjot Singh Dhaliwal, senior Akali leader Mr Madan Lal Bagga, Ludhiana DC Mr Rajat Aggarwal, Ludhiana Police Commissioner Mr Promod Ban, Ludhiana (Rural) SSP Mr Ravcharan Singh Brar, Khanna ADC Mr Ajay Sood, SDM (Raikot) Ms Shena Aggarwal, besides people from all walks of life.