Kotli mourns loss of its sports-enthusiast sarpanch

Gurminder Singh Grewal

Kotli (Khanna), May 29

A pall of gloom descended on the Payal area when the news of death of Harkirat Singh (40), grandson of former chief minister Beant Singh, reached here. Harkirat, sarpanch of Kotli village, was son of former transport minister Tej Parkash Singh and younger brother of Congress MLA from Khanna Gurkirat Singh Kotli.

Harkirat was the cousin of Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu. As per area residents, although Harkirat was having some health problems he was running the affairs of village panchayat smoothly.

Taj Mohammed, an area resident, said Harkirat had met with an accident about 7-8 months ago and was having some health problem due to injury he sustained in his head during the accident. He said though Harkirat was under depression and his memory was affected by the accident, he was often seen in high spirits.

He was fond of trees and had planted a number of trees in his fields besides village, Mohammed said.

Harkirat was unanimously elected sarpanch in the last panchayat elections and he was instrumental in settling villagers’ disputes amicably. Although Harkirat was residing at Chandigarh he often visited Kotli to look after his agriculture and village affairs.

He was very fond of sports and would organise a sports tournament in the village every year. About two months ago he had organised a tractor-tochan competition in the village, where a large number of tractor owners had participated.

Harkirat is survived by his wife. The couple did not have a child. A number of Congress leaders of the area, including district Congress chief Lakhvir Singh Lakha, Harminder Singh Shinda Ghudani, Jaspreet Singh Kalalmajra and others, have expressed grief over his death and expressed condolence with the family.