Banga ex-MLA cremated at ancestral Soondh village

Congress former MLA Tarlochan Singh Soondh (71) was cremated at his native village Soondh at Banga in Nawanshahr district today.

The entire senior leadership of the Congress as well as senior leaders across party lines bade him an emotional adieu. The two-time former Congress MLA from Banga died of a heart attack on Saturday morning, while on campaign for the Tarn Taran byelection. With the senior Congress leadership in presence, Soondh’s body was draped in the Congress flag and the state president lent shoulder to his body before bidding him the final farewell.

Soondh is survived by his wife and married daughters. Both Congress president Raja Warring and state Leader of Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa draped Soondh’s body in the party flag. The leaders consoled Soondh’s relatives.

Earlier today, Soondh’s body was taken across Banga in a vehicle bedecked with flowers as part of his final journey. After a tour through his constituency, his mortal remains were brought to the cremation grounds of his ancestral village Soondh where the final ceremony was conducted.

Warring, Bajwa, MP Sukhjinder Randhawa, Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjit Singh, Adampur MLA Sukhwinder Kotli, Phillaur MLA Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary, Shahkot MLA Hardev Singh Ladi Sherowalia, former Nawanshahr MLA Angad Singh, SAD leader and former Congressman Mohinder Singh Kaypee, Congress district president Ajay Mangupur, Congress leader Satvir Palli Jhikki, BJP leader Mohan Lal, leaders Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Santosh Chaudhary, among others remained present.

A prominent Dalit leader of the Congress, Soondh served as an MLA in 2002 and 2012. He had also served in the Indian Foreign Services. He was the son of the slain Congress minister Jagat Ram Soondh.