SAD leader and former Punjab speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon dies at 79

SAD leader and former Punjab speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon dies at 79

SAD leader and former Punjab speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon dies at 79

Gurdaspur : Former speaker and senior SAD leader Nirmal Singh Kahlon (79) dies in sleep.

He was a minister of Rural Development and Panchayats state of Punjab from 1997 to 2002 and Speaker of the Punjab Legislative Assembly from 2007 to 2012. He was charged in a recruitment scam case, but was later acquitted by the courts.Senior Akali leader Daljit Singh Cheema, in a tweet, said the last rites of Kahlon will be performed in Dadujodh village, near Fatehgarh Churian in Gurdaspur district on July 17.

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal offered his condolences on the death of the senior party leader.

“Deeply saddened to learn about the demise of senior Akali leader & former Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S Nirmal Singh Ji Kahlon. Kahlon sahab was a source of inspiration for all of us. His wise counsel will always be missed. I stand with Kahlon family in this hour of grief,” Badal said in a tweet.