MOHALI, May 28: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami on Tuesday expressed deep condolences over the passing of veteran Akali leader and former Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.
Dhindsa, 89, died at Fortis Hospital in Mohali after a prolonged illness related to lung complications. A towering figure in Punjab’s political landscape, he served as a Rajya Sabha member and Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers (2004–2010), earning respect across party lines for his principled politics and lifelong commitment to Sikh and Punjabi causes.
Chief Minister Mann, while mourning the loss, noted, “We may have had political differences, but as human beings, we sympathise with his family. May God grant peace to his soul and strength to those he leaves behind.”
SGPC president Dhami recalled Dhindsa’s role in national politics, describing him as a committed Akali leader. “He rose to prominent positions with dedication to the Panth and Punjab. His demise is a great loss not only to the family but also to the country,” Dhami said. He offered prayers for the departed soul and strength to the grieving family, saying, “May the Akal Purakh accept the family’s acceptance of His will.”
Born on April 9, 1936, Dhindsa was known for his simplicity, spiritual devotion, and public service. He had recently undertaken religious penance (tankhah) as directed by the Akal Takht, serving at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib.
Dhindsa’s son, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, has accompanied him closely in both political and religious spheres.
Condolences also came from across party lines. Congress leader Raja Brar called him a “true son of Punjab” who “served both the state and the nation with unwavering dedication.”
Dhindsa’s legacy, marked by his lifelong dedication to Sikh values, service to Punjab, and dignified public life, is expected to resonate for generations to come.
